Adult rhabdomyosarcoma: cross-sectional imaging findings including histopathologic correlation.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to present the MRI and CT features of adult rhabdomyosarcomas with histopathologic correlation. Forty-nine sequential cases were incorporated over a 5-year period from the sarcoma unit database. Twenty-six patients had adequate imaging (16 MRI, 10 CT) and histopathology available for retrospective review. The alveolar subtype was present in 13 patients, embryonal subtype in four patients, and pleomorphic subtype in nine patients. On both CT and T1-weighted MRI, all tumors were isodense to skeletal muscle, although enhancement was variable after the administration of IV contrast material. Pleomorphic tumors were very high signal on T2-weighted/STIR imaging, and both pleomorphic and alveolar subtypes were extremely heterogeneous. Embryonal tumors were more homogeneous.


CONCLUSIONS
Although adult rhabdomyosarcomas have certain imaging appearances in common with other soft-tissue sarcomas, features at presentation such as tumor heterogeneity, site, regional lymphadenopathy, and pulmonary metastasis should make the radiologist consider this important diagnosis.
Allen
Steven D
SD
Department of Imaging, Royal Marsden Hospital, Downs Rd., Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom. steven.allen@rmh.nhs.uk
Moskovic
Eleanor C
EC
Fisher
Cyril
C
Thomas
J Meirion
JM
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA