Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma presenting as subacute intravascular coagulation

A patient with rhabdomyosarcoma is described in whom the presenting clinical and laboratory features were those of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The patient's rapid downhill course was primarily expressed by haemorrhagic tendency. An alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, affecting many organs, including vascular and cardiac lumina, was found at necropsy and was considered to be the cause of the consumption coagulopathy.