Parapharyngeal rhabdomyoma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Rhabdomyoma is a rare benign tumor of striated muscle.
• Extracardiac adult-type rhabdomyomas are exceptionally uncommon, particularly in pediatric patients.
• Literature review identified 20 cases of extracardiac adult-type rhabdomyoma in the head and neck, typically encapsulated and easily excised.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of parapharyngeal rhabdomyoma in a young child.
• To describe the atypical histological features and lack of encapsulation in this pediatric case.
• To differentiate this case from previously documented extracardiac adult-type rhabdomyomas.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 22 1/2-month-old female with a parapharyngeal mass.
• Histopathological examination of the tumor.
• Review of relevant world literature on extracardiac adult-type rhabdomyomas.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with a parapharyngeal rhabdomyoma.
• The tumor exhibited atypical histology.
• Unlike previously reported cases, this rhabdomyoma lacked a capsule and was not easily excised.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric parapharyngeal rhabdomyomas can present with atypical features, including lack of encapsulation.
• This case expands the understanding of rhabdomyoma variability in children.
• Surgical management may be more complex in cases with atypical histology and infiltrative growth patterns.