[Endobronchial pulmonary rhabdomyosarcoma. A case report]

We report a case of pleiomorphous pulmonary rhabdomyosarcoma observed in a 64-year-old patient with no history of soft tissue tumor. The tumor was found extending into the right lower and middle lobes. The intra-parenchymatous extension protruded into the middle lobular bronchus and was prolonged by a 4 cm polyp. The polyp extended up to the carina and reached the contralateral common bronchus. Outcome was fatal after surgery performed in an emergency setting due to asphyxia. Explorations could not be continued to determine the primary or secondary nature of the tumor. An intraparenchymatous endobronchial localization is uncommon. Primary rhabdomyosarcoma is generally a purely intra-parenchymatous tumor. The endobronchial localization has been described before but is very exceptional. This localization would also be exceptional for secondary rhabdomyosarcoma mimicking a primary malignant tumor. The histology study revealed an undifferentiated pleiomorphous tumor. Immunohistochemistry provided the final diagnosis.