title: Rhabdomyosarcoma--an epidemiological and histopathologic study of 277 cases from a major tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the epidemiologic data (age, gender, size etc) and histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) reported in our department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases of RMS diagnosed between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012 were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 277 cases were included. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) was by far the dominant histologic type (87.4%) followed by alveolar type (ARMS)(9.4%). ERMS was much more common in males (64.0%)and over 65% of cases occurred in the first decade of life (over 90% in the first two decades). Head and neck region was commonest site for ERMS (46.7%), followed by the genitourinary system (16.1%). Over 65% cases of ARMS occurred in the extremities. Over 80% cases of ARMS occurred in the first 3 decades of life. Immunohistochemical staining for Desmin and MyoD1 was positive in 96.7% and 85.4% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epidemiologic data and microscopic findings in our patients are similar to international published data on rhabdomyosarcoma.
authors: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan E-mail : nasir.uddin@aku.edu.
authors: Zubair
authors: Z
authors: Ahmad
authors: Nasir Ud
authors: NU
authors: Din
authors: Arsalan
authors: A
authors: Ahmad
authors: Sheharbano
authors: S
authors: Imran
authors: Shahid
authors: S
authors: Pervez
authors: Rashida
authors: R
authors: Ahmed
authors: Naila
authors: N
authors: Kayani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult