Rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and adrenocortical carcinoma in a child with a germline p53 mutation

A child with an unusual association of cancers is described. The patient first presented with a rhabdomyosarcoma of the right scapular muscle, and was successfully treated with chemotherapy. Six years after diagnosis of the first malignancy, the child presented with two synchronous malignancies: osteosarcoma of the jaw and adrenocortical carcinoma. Genetic mutation analysis was performed and revealed a germline p53 mutation of CGT > CAT at codon 273. The family history was negative for any other cancer consistent with the Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This case highlights the need for close surveillance of patients with p53 mutation for malignancy and describes the occurrence of two malignancies synchronously.