[Pathology of childhood and adolescent rhabdomyosarcoma]

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most important and a very heterogeneous group of malignant soft tissue tumors of childhood and adolescence. The two major subtypes (embryonal and alveolar) share a common myogenic differentiation, but seem to be histogenetically not related. The so-called 'International Classification of Rhabdomyosarcoma' includes, besides the two major subtypes, the botryoid and leiomyomatous subtypes of embryonal RMS which are associated with a better prognosis and are treated less aggressively according to current protocols. In addition, the solid variant of alveolar RMS is included in the alveolar group of RMS. The identification of the various subtypes is necessary and important because the treatment with the current protocols is also related to histology. Using conventional stains and immunohistochemistry, these subtypes are distinguishable. Genetic analysis can be helpful in the demonstration of t(2;13) or t(1;13) translocations in alveolar RMS. The identification of alveolar RMS with t(1;13) translocation might become important in the future, because this type of translocation seems to be related to a better prognosis as compared to tumors with a t(2;13) translocation.