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Hyperostosis in orbital rhabdomyosarcoma
Paolo Nico Aseron Rogelio1, Felice Katrina Trio Ranche2, Mary Rose Pe-Yan2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines pnarogeliomd@gmail.com.
Insights
Rhabdomyosarcoma, a common pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma, can present as an orbital tumor. This case report details a rare instance of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma causing hyperostosis, a thickening of the skull bone.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequent soft-tissue sarcoma in children.
- Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma typically presents as a unilateral lesion, potentially causing bony erosion.
- Imaging is crucial for diagnosing orbital masses and associated bony changes.
Observation:
- A preschool girl presented with proptosis and temporal bossing, indicative of an orbital mass.
- Imaging revealed a well-defined, extraconal orbital mass with associated hyperostosis of the sphenoid bone.
- This represents the first reported case of hyperostosis linked to orbital rhabdomyosarcoma.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.
- The tumor was excised, and the hyperostotic sphenoid bone was debulked.
- No malignant infiltration into the adjacent bone was detected.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual presentation of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma.
- Periosteal reaction is suggested as the mechanism behind the observed hyperostosis.
- Further research may elucidate the relationship between rhabdomyosarcoma and bony changes like hyperostosis.
Abstract:
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in paediatric patients and may arise as a primary orbital neoplasm. Imaging studies show a unilateral solitary orbital lesion. With larger tumours, erosion of the adjacent orbital walls is a common accompanying bony change. We present an unusual case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a preschool girl with proptosis and temporal bossing. Imaging studies showed a homogeneous, well-delineated, extraconal mass of the right orbit with hyperostosis of the adjacent sphenoid bone. After excision of the mass and debulking of the sphenoid bone, histopathology showed embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with no malignant infiltration of the adjacent bone. This is the first reported case of hyperostosis associated with rhabdomyosarcoma. Periosteal reaction is the proposed underlying mechanism.
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