Rhabdomyosarcoma of the maxillary sinus. A case report

A rare case of adult rhabdomyosarcoma originating from the left maxillary sinus is reported. A 22-year-old Japanese woman was referred to the Department of Otolaryngology, Hiroshima University, for investigation of the primary source of a metastatic tumor in the bone marrow. An X-ray of the sinuses revealed a tumor in the left maxillary sinus with extension into the nasal cavity, ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses. The patient was managed with a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of high-dose methotrexate, adriamycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone. After three courses of this chemotherapy, the tumor had decreased in size by about 90 per cent, as indicated by X-rays. The remaining tumor was removed by an extended Denker's operation. Following the surgery another seven courses of chemotherapy were given and during the eight months following the operation the patient has been free from any local recurrence.