Rhabdomyosarcoma of the testicular appendage in an infant: case report

This is a case report of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the epididymal appendage in a 15-month old infant. It is a rare tumor with a good prognosis when treated promptly. The ultrasound examination showed the testicle to be enlarged but hypo-echoic in comparison to the epididymis which was infiltrated with tumor. An inflammatory mass or enlargement of a testicle demands careful diagnosis and appropriate therapy with immediate referral to a urologist if the normal clinical course deviates. Representative images are included. Rhabdomyosarcoma of the testicle or extra testicular scrotal structures is rare. A report in 1983 by Kage et al from Japan revealed two cases of the tumor, however, both were in adult males. This case report is an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a fifteen month old infant which presented with a confusing clinical picture. This case is presented in an effort to alert the clinician to the possibility of a rare, non-germ cell tumor presenting as an inflammatory lesion.