[A case of primary cerebral rhabdomyosarcoma (author's transl)]

A primary cerebral rhabdomyosarcoma is reported in a 51-year-old female. She noticed progressive weakness of the left leg in September 1977 and underwent craniotomy for a brain tumor in Tokyo Metropolitan Okubo General Hospital. At the operation the tumor was located on the medial aspect of the right frontal lobe, being attached to the falx. The tumor was 6.0 x 5.0 x 4.0cm in size and subtotally removed. Shortly after operation, she developed a left-sided hemiplegia and was referred to our Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center. During rehabilitation she developed disturbance in recent memory, orientation and speaking. A second operation was done in June 1978, revealing obvious recurrence. A well demarcated extramedullary gray and soft tumor, 7.0 x 5.0 x 3.5cm in size, was found in the previously operated site, being attached to the falx. It was subtotally again. Following surgery her clinical condition was temporally improved. Four months following surgery, however, she developed signs of increased intracranial pressure and died in October 1978 in spite of having chemotherapy and irradiation. Autopsy was not permitted. The tumor was diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma with light and electron microscopies and several investigation revealed no primary lesion in elswhere except for the cranium. The histological documentation is also presented and discussed.