Rhabdomyosarcoma of the breast - a rare malignancy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Primary nonepithelial breast malignancies, including sarcomas, account for less than 5% of all breast neoplasms.
• Primary breast sarcomas are rare, aggressive tumors often presenting as large, painless lumps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the breast in an adult female.
• To discuss the clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of this rare condition.

Main Methods:

• A 60-year-old postmenopausal female presented with a breast lump and axillary involvement.
• Diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma with infiltrating duct carcinoma was confirmed.
• Treatment involved modified radical mastectomy with axillary clearance and postoperative chemotherapy.

Main Results:

• The patient was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma of the breast.
• The tumor presented as a lump in the axilla.
• Treatment included mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the breast in adults is exceptionally rare, representing less than 3% of adult soft-tissue sarcomas.
• These tumors are typically aggressive, grow rapidly, and require a multidisciplinary treatment approach, with surgery as the primary modality.
• Prognosis is dependent on tumor grade and size; axillary lymphadenopathy is uncommon.