Orbital Metastasis in Patients With Rhabdomyosarcoma: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Abstract

We present 3 cases of children who developed recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma with metastases to the orbit and review the medical literature. Eight additional cases have previously been reported. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed in 7 cases. All 11 patients had stage 3 or 4 tumors at diagnosis, but none had orbital involvement initially. The mechanism of orbital recurrence is hematogenous in nature. Ten of the patients died; 7 of them succumbed with progressive disease within 6 months of the orbital recurrence.

Orbital sarcoma with metastases at diagnosis: A report from the soft tissue sarcoma committee of the Children's Oncology Group

“…However, all patients were centrally reviewed, and the primary sites were determined to be in the orbit. Also, orbital metastases are quite rare and are usually seen in patients with significantly advanced, recurrent disease 8. Review of our patient group demonstrated only one patient with another tumor in a separate soft tissue site.…”

Rare pattern of relapse to the pancreas and bilateral extraocular muscles in paediatric alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

“…The orbit is an infrequent site for recurrent metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, with bilateral involvement even rarer. There are only three cases of bilateral orbital metastases from non‐orbital primary rhabdomyosarcoma reported in the literature, with primary sites of disease including the scrotum, thigh and maxillary sinus …”

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with multiple distal metastases. A case report and review of literature

“…The mechanism of orbital metastasis is haematogenous in nature. Orbital metastasis usually found in advanced stage of disease and tumours of the orbit may cause complications like proptosis and ophthalmoplegia 8 9. Metastatic sarcomas involving the spine are rare.…”