A case of adult rhabdomyoma in the tonsillar region. A light and electron microscope study.
A case of rhabdomyoma in a 71-year-old woman is reported. The lobulated, soft tumour was situated in the left tonsillar region. It was encapsulated, easily removable and of a uniformly greyish-red colour on the cut surface. Both light and electron microscopy showed the classical features of a benign rhabdomyoma of adult type, with large "spider" cells and typical myofilaments, as well as Z-band fragments. To achieve the correct diagnosis in such cases the most important thing is probably to bear the possibility of this rare, but benign tumour in mind.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012207:Rhabdomyoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure