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A wolf in sheep's disguise: rhabdomyosarcoma misdiagnosed as infantile hemangioma
Luluah Al-Mubarak1, Sultan Al-Khenaizan
1College of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Rhabdomyosarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors representing the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood. A delay in diagnosis is not uncommon.
Objective:
To report a boy with paranasal rhabdomyosarcoma who was misdiagnosed and treated for infantile hemangioma.
Methods And Results:
A 2-year-old Saudi boy who presented with a progressively increasing nasal mass for 18 months was misdiagnosed and treated for infantile hemangioma at an outside hospital. Histopathologic examination revealed paranasal rhabdomyosarcoma.
Conclusion:
We review some clinical clues that can alert the physician to malignant childhood tumors. We also review management options for childhood rhabdomyosarcoma.
Insights
A child
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Rhabdomyosarcomas are common childhood soft tissue sarcomas.
- Diagnosis delays are frequent in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old boy presented with an 18-month history of a progressively enlarging nasal mass.
- The child was initially misdiagnosed with infantile hemangioma at an outside facility.
Findings:
- Histopathologic examination confirmed paranasal rhabdomyosarcoma.
- This case highlights diagnostic challenges in pediatric soft tissue tumors.
Implications:
- Early recognition of clinical clues is crucial for diagnosing malignant childhood tumors.
- Understanding rhabdomyosarcoma management is essential for pediatric oncologists.
