Learn About Rhabdomyosarcoma
View Main Condition: Brain Tumor
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the muscles that are attached to the bones. This cancer mostly affects children.
Soft tissue cancer - rhabdomyosarcoma; Soft tissue sarcoma; Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma; Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma; Sarcoma botryoides
Rhabdomyosarcoma can occur in many places in the body. The most common sites are the head or neck, the urinary or reproductive system, and the arms or legs.
The cause of rhabdomyosarcoma is unknown. It is a rare tumor with only several hundred new cases per year in the United States.
Some children with certain birth defects are at an increased risk. Some families have a gene mutation that increases this risk. Most children with rhabdomyosarcoma do not have any known risk factors.
The most common symptom is a mass that may or may not be painful.
Other symptoms vary depending on location of the tumor.
- Tumors in the nose or throat may cause bleeding, congestion, swallowing problems, or nervous system problems if they extend into the brain.
- Tumors around the eyes may cause bulging of the eye, problems with vision, swelling around the eye, or pain.
- Tumors in the ears, may cause pain, hearing loss, or swelling.
- Bladder and vaginal tumors may cause trouble starting to urinate or having a bowel movement, or poor control of urine.
- Muscle tumors may lead to a painful lump, and can be mistaken for an injury.
Treatment depends on the site and type of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Either radiation or chemotherapy, or both, will be used before or after surgery. In general, surgery and radiation therapy are used to treat the primary site of the tumor. Chemotherapy is used to treat disease at all sites in the body.
Chemotherapy is an essential part of treatment to prevent spread and recurrence of the cancer. Many different chemotherapy drugs are active against rhabdomyosarcoma. Your provider will discuss these with you.
Duke Cancer Center
Richard Riedel is an Oncologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Riedel is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Liposarcoma, Desmoid Tumor, and Angiosarcoma. Dr. Riedel is currently accepting new patients.
Duke Children's Health Center Urology Clinic
Jonathan Routh is a Pediatrics provider in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Routh is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Neurogenic Bowel, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Lithotripsy, and Ureteroscopy. Dr. Routh is currently accepting new patients.
Andrea Ferrari practices in Milan, Italy. Ms. Ferrari is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Her top areas of expertise are Rhabdomyosarcoma, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor, Thyroidectomy, and Pancreatectomy.
The stress of illness can be eased by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
With intensive treatment, most children with rhabdomyosarcoma are able to survive long-term. Cure depends on the specific type of tumor, its location, and how much it has spread.
Complications of this cancer or its treatment include:
- Complications from chemotherapy
- Location in which surgery is not possible
- Spread of the cancer (metastasis)
Contact your provider if your child has symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Summary: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can cure patients with blood cancer and other underlying diseases. αβ-T cell and B cell depletion has been introduced to decrease GVHD and PTLD and has demonstrated effectiveness for hematologic malignancies and non-malignant diseases additionally increasing the donor pool as to allow for haploidentical transplant to safely occur. While solid tumors can be h...
Summary: The purpose of the study is to determine the appropriate pediatric dosage and evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of Lutetium Lu 177 Edotreotide Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT) as a monotherapy or following standard of care (SoC) in participants ≥2 to \<18 years of age with somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive tumors.
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Dome JS, Rodriguez-Galindo C, Spunt SL, Santana VM. Pediatric solid tumors. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 92.
Goldblum JR, Folpe AL, Weiss SW. Rhabdomyosarcoma. In: Goldblum JR, Folpe AL, Weiss SW, eds. Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 19.
National Cancer Institute website. Childhood rhabdomyosarcoma treatment (PDQ) health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/hp/rhabdomyosarcoma-treatment-pdq. Updated June 17, 2024. Accessed July 1, 2024.