Primary Renal Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma in Adults: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Adult renal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare subtype of renal sarcoma. We present a case of a renal mass treated with radical nephrectomy that subsequently was shown to be renal rhabdomyosarcoma. We discuss the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and histology for this case and review the available literature.

Primary renal embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in an adult patient

“…In 2012, Fanous et al described a 37-year-old woman with primary renal ERMS 2. She presented with a 6-month history of fatigue, right flank pain, weight loss and gross haematuria.…”

“…Of these, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), an aggressive tumour that arises from muscle progenitor cells, accounts for a very small number of sarcomas in the adult population. RMS can be classified into four subtypes: alveolar, embryonal, spindle-cell and pleomorphic 2. While an estimated 25% of embryonal RMS (ERMS) cases in adolescents involve the genitourinary system, there are only a few genitourinary RMS cases reported in the adult literature 3.…”

“…These tumours are known to present late and behave aggressively in adults, with the majority of cases being metastatic at presentation 2. Radiographically, primary renal RMS has characteristics similar to renal cell carcinoma with no predictive features on CT imaging.…”

Primary Rhabdomyosarcoma of Kidney with Local Recurrence and Liver Metastasis in Adults

“…Embryonal, alveolar, and pleomorphic variations are among the histological subtypes. Primary pleomorphic RMS in adults are exceedingly uncommon (2,3). In addition, in adulthood, these tumors appear late and aggressively, with the majority of cases developing metastasis at the time of diagnosis (2).…”

“…Primary pleomorphic RMS in adults are exceedingly uncommon (2,3). In addition, in adulthood, these tumors appear late and aggressively, with the majority of cases developing metastasis at the time of diagnosis (2). Hence, we describe our patient's clinicopathologic characteristics, including clinical follow-up, focusing on the disease treatment and outcome.…”