An unusual presentation of an intra-abdominal rhabdomyosarcoma

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a common neoplasm, representing 5 - 10% of malignant solid tumours in childhood, and is the commonest soft-tissue sarcoma in the paediatric age group. Even though the tumour usually arises from striated muscle, it frequently originates from sites devoid of striated muscle such as the urinary bladder, prostate gland and gallbladder. We present an unusual case of a large intra-abdominal embryonal RMS which demonstrated a mesenteric cleft inferolaterally with feeding vessels entering the mass. This unique presentation of embryonal RMS proved to be a diagnostic challenge.