Gangliorhabdomyosarcoma: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study of three cases

A histopathological and immunoperoxidase study on three cases of genitourinary gangliorhabdomyosarcoma using a spectrum of conventional staining methods and antibodies against myoglobin, neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein is presented. The results of the study have shown that differentiated myoblasts, ganglion cells and Schwann cells reacted positively with the particular antisera, but the majority of undifferentiated cells were negative. From the immunopathology results it was not possible to determine whether the undifferentiated cells were precursors of neural cells or myoblasts; the histological appearance resembled that of mesenchymal cells commonly seen in rhabdomyosarcomas. Theories concerning the origin of these tumours from neural crest ectomesenchyme or from neural crest and somitic mesenchyme are considered. Further study is needed to establish their histogenesis.