Fetal rhabdomyoma. A case report with the diagnosis suggested by intraoperative cytology.
BACKGROUND
Fetal rhabdomyoma is a relatively rare tumor that occurs mainly in the head and neck of toddlers. A similar lesion can occasionally be found in the adult female genital tract. Increased cellularity may be seen in the fetal type and can lead to confusion with the well-differentiated types of rhabdomyosarcoma.


METHODS
An 8-day-old infant presented with a unilateral, right-sided, postauricular mass. Intraoperative cytology of the mass showed numerous cells with spindled nuclei in a background of myxoid material. A provisional diagnosis of fetal rhabdomyoma was made and subsequently confirmed by histopathologic examination.


CONCLUSIONS
In neonates presenting with cervical swelling, the possibility of fetal rhabdomyoma should always be considered and confirmed by both intraoperative cytology and histopathologic examination of the resected tumor.
al Rikabi
A C
AC
Department of Pathology, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
al Kharfy
T
T
al Sohaibani
M O
MO
al Samarrai
A I
AI
D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012207:Rhabdomyoma / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery