[A case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the kidney]

A case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the left kidney is reported. A 16-year-old boy was admitted with the complaint of left abdominal pain and fever on January 6, 1983. Radiological examination showed a tumor of the left kidney; and, nephrectomy was performed. Histopathologically the entire tumor was composed of undifferentiated round cells. Diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was made on the basis of special stains including immunohistochemical study with nervous tissue specific enolase. Although radiation and chemotherapy were performed postoperatively, the tumor recurred and the patient died on October 22, 1983. The problems of differential diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma from sarcomatous types of nephroblastoma, particularly rhabdoid tumor and other undifferentiated renal tumors were discussed. Fifteen rhabdomyosarcoma of the kidney including our case have been reported in the Japanese literature.