title: A pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma mimicking an inguinal hernia: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: A 59-year-old male presented with a painful right inguinal swelling and deep vein thrombosis at the ipsilateral leg. An inguinal hernia was initially diagnosed, but during surgery a large mass was found anteriorly to the peritoneal sheaths. Histology revealed a high-grade pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. The mass advanced rapidly, occupying the whole right iliac fossa and metastasizing to the lung. Despite first- and second-line chemotherapy, the patient deteriorated rapidly and died. Rhabdomyosarcomas should be managed in specialized centres as they have prognostic factors and histologic features still controversial and poorly clarified.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Oncology, Second Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koumarianou
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karageorgopoulou
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machairas
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liakakos
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chranioti
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.forename: Evangelos P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Misiakos