- Case Report
- Open Access
- Published:
Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma with skin metastasis: a case report
BMC Research Notes volume 7, Article number: 670 (2014)
Abstract
Background
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue neoplasm that usually arises in the headand neck region and genitourinary tract. Skin metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma is extremely rare; of thirteen cases reported in the literature, most were children younger than 10 years and only three cases have been reported in adults.
Case presentation
A 20-year-old Moroccan man was admitted with a right orbital tumor. The tumor was excised and histopathology examination confirmed a diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy, but local recurrence occurred one year later. The patient underwent right orbital exenteration followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 6 months, the patient developed a cutaneous mass in the right lumbar region, which was resected. Immunohistochemical examination of the tumor showed this to be a cutaneous metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient was treated by chemotherapy and there appeared to be no recurrence after 9 months of follow up.
Conclusions
Skin metastasis from rhabdomyosarcoma is extremely rare, particularly in adults. The purpose of presenting this case report is to raise awareness among clinicians— skin biopsy and immunohistochemistry are needed to distinguish this neoplasm from other cutaneous tumors so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Background
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in childhood and adolescence. Approximately 350 new cases occur each year in the US [1]. The most commonly involved sites at presentation are genitourinary (29%), parameningeal (24%), the extremities (15%), retroperitoneal (13%), orbit (8%), and other head and neck areas (7%) [1]. Orbital (RMS) is the most common primary orbital malignancy in children with approximately 35 new cases per year [2]. The treatment of choice is chemotherapy and radiation as determined by the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study [3]. Orbital RMS has a relatively good prognosis, 70% of children and adolescents with RMS are cured [4, 5]. Cutaneous metastasis of RMS is rarely described in the literature; between 1966 and 2014 only 13 cases were reported [6–15]. Among these cases, only three were in adults [6–8]. We report a case of a 20-year-old Moroccan man with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma who developed skin metastasis.
Case presentation
A previously fit and well 20-year-old Moroccan man presented with a right orbital tumor measuring 2 cm in diameter that had been rapidly increasing in volume. A complete resection of the tumor was made. The diagnosis was made on histological examination, confirming the orbital tumor to be an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.The patient received six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with alternating vincristine, adriablastine and cyclophosphamide(VAC). One year later, the patient developed a local recurrence. Exenteration was performed,followed by treatment with six cycles of ifosfamide plus etoposide (IE); local radiotherapy was also given at a dose of 45 Gy. However, after 6 months, the patient developed a cutaneous mass in the right lumbar region, which was resected. A computed tomography - scan of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis did not reveal any metastasis. Macroscopically, the tumor size was 4 × 4 × 2.2 cm; the cut surfaces were nodular and fleshy; there was no necrosis and the edges showed an infiltrative pattern. Histologic sections with microscopy showed a proliferation of undifferentiated round cells arranged in sheets with some tapered eosinophilic cytoplasm. High mitotic rate was seen. The tumor cells infiltrating the subcutaneous tissue. Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections revealed loosely arranged round cells with large hyperchromatic nuclei and rare strap cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm (Figures 1 and 2). Immunohistochemical studies were performed using antibodies directed against desmin,myogenin, cytokeratin and leukocyte common antigen(LCA).Photomicrographs showing a sheet of undifferentiated round cells. The tumour cells were immunopositive for desmin (Figure 3) and myogenin (Figure 4), and negativity for cytokeratin and LCA. A final diagnosis of cutaneous RMS metastasis was made. The patient then was treated by chemotherapy with 6 cycles of IE. He is still living 9 months after the initial diagnosis of skin metastasis with no recurrence.
Discussion
RMS is an uncommon neoplasm in the adult population. Metastasis to skin is extremely rare in both children and adults with RMS. Only three adult cases of RMS with skin metastases have been reported in the literature [6–8]. Most of these cases were treated by surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the prognosis was poor. The 5-year overall survival in patients with distant metastases is 20% to 30% from three published trials [16]. According to the literature, RMS of the skin is often misdiagnosed and has similar clinical features to other more common soft tissue tumors [17].
Most cases of RMS skin metastasis are of the alveolar subtype, which is most often seen in pediatric patients [18]. It is often very difficult to differentiate the skin metastases of RMS from other skin neoplasms that are composed of spindle or round cells, such as lymphoma, melanoma, leiomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma [19]. The use of immunohistochemistry may provide additional information to aid in differential diagnosis. Positivity for LCA in lymphoma, CD99 immunoreactivity and EWS/Fli1 translocation in extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma. 80% of S100 protein and HMB45 are positive in Melanoma, CD56 strongly positive in neuroblastoma. Most Merkel cell carcinoma are usually positive to cytokeratin 20, neuron-specific enolas, and neurofilament. Leiomyosarcoma are usually positive for desmin and smooth muscle actin [20]. The diagnosis of RMS is made by immunohistochemistry, the presence of cross striations with positivity for MyoD1, myogenin and desmin help to make the diagnosis [18].
Cytogenetic analysis plays an important role in confirming the diagnosis, but only for alveolar RMS because there is no specific cytogenetic or molecular markers for embryonal RMS. Alveolar RMS is associated with a specific translocation, t(2;13)(q37;q14) or its variant t(1;13)(p36;q14) [21].
Treatment for this tumor is multimodal, including surgical excision with or without radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis of this disease depends on the location and number of metastatic sites, and the treatment received [5]. The 13 cases described in the literature had a median survival of 8 months [6].
Conclusions
Embryonal RMS with skin metastasis is quite rare and can readily be misdiagnosed. Skin biopsy with immunohistochemistry is necessary to make the diagnosis and to distinguish this malignancy from others cutaneous conditions, so that adequate treatment can be initiated.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case Report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
Abbreviations
- RMS:
-
Rhabdomyosarcoma
- VAC:
-
vincristine-adriablastine-cyclophosphamide
- IE:
-
ifosfamide-etoposide
- LCA:
-
leukocyte common antigen.
References
Ries LAG, Smith MA, Gurney JG, Linet M, Tamra T, Young JL, Bunin GR: Cancer incidence and survival among children and adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975–1995. NIH Pub. No. 99–4649. 1999, Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, SEER Program
Gandhi P, Fleming J, Haik B, Wilson M: Ophthalmic complications following treatment of paranasal sinus rhabdomyosarcoma in comparison to orbital disease. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011, 0: 1-6.
Notis CM, Abramson DH, Sagerman RH, Ellsworth RM: Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma: treatment or overtreatment. Ophtalmic Genet. 1995, 16 (4): 159-162. 10.3109/13816819509057857.
Crist W, Gehan EA, Ragab AH, Dickman PS, Donaldson SS, Fryer C, Hammond D, Hays DM, Herrmann J, Heyn R: The Third Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study. J Clin Oncol. 1995, 13: 610-630.
Crist WM, Anderson JR, Meza JL, Fryer C, Raney RB, Ruymann FB, Breneman J, Qualman SJ, Wiener E, Wharam M, Lobe T, Webber B, Maurer HM, Donaldson SS: Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study-IV, results for patients with nonmetastatic disease. J Clin Oncol. 2001, 19: 3091-3102.
Satoko S, Chikako Y, Koichiro M, Kikuo T: Metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma of the skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008, 58 (Suppl 1): 118-120.
Ansai S, Takeda H, Koseki S, Hozumi Y, Kondo S: A patient with rhabdomyosarcoma and clear cell sarcoma of the skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994, 31: 871-876. 10.1016/S0190-9622(94)70249-7.
Simsir A, Ioffe OB, Henry M: Adult rhabdomyosarcoma with skin metastases: diagnosis by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Acta Cytol. 2001, 45: 106-108.
Hayashi K, Ohtsuki Y, Takahashi K, Sonobe H, Nakamura S, Kitagawa N, Arata J, Shimanouchi Y, Kurashige T: Congenital alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with multiple skin metastases: Report of a case. Acta Pathol Jpn. 1988, 38: 241-248.
Kitagawa N, Arata J, Ohtsuki Y, Hayashi K, Oomori Y, Tomoda T: Congenital alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma presenting as a blueberry muffin baby. J Dermatol. 1989, 16: 409-411.
Schmidt D, Fletcher CD, Harms D: Rhabdomyosarcomas with primary presentation in the skin. Pathol Res Pract. 1993, 189: 422-427. 10.1016/S0344-0338(11)80330-4.
Ito F, Watanabe Y, Harada T, Horibe K: Cerebral metastases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in an infant with multiple skin nodules. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1997, 19: 466-469. 10.1097/00043426-199709000-00012.
Godambe SV, Rawal J: Blueberry muffin rash as a presentation of alveolar cell rhabdomyosarcoma in a neonate. Acta Paediatr. 2000, 89: 115-117. 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2000.tb01199.x.
Rodriguez-Galindo C, Hill DA, Onyekwere O, Pin N, Rao BN, Hoffer FA, Kun LE, Pappo AS, Santana VM: Neonatal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with skin and brain metastases. Cancer. 2001, 92: 1613-1620. 10.1002/1097-0142(20010915)92:6<1613::AID-CNCR1487>3.0.CO;2-N.
Rekhi B, Qureshi SS, Narula G, Gujral S, Kurkure P: Rapidly progressive congenital rhabdomyosarcoma presenting with multiple cutaneous lesions: an uncommon diagnosis and a therapeutic challenge. Pathol Res Pract. 2014, 210 (5): 328-333. 10.1016/j.prp.2014.02.001.
Ruymann FB, Grovas AC: Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma and related soft tissue sarcomas. Cancer Invest. 2000, 18: 223-241. 10.3109/07357900009031827.
Scatena C, Massi D, Frachi A, De Paoli A, Canzonieri V: Rhabdomyosarcoma of the skin resembling carcinosarcoma :report of a case and literature review. Am J Dermatopathol. 2012, 34 (1): el-6-doi:10.1097/DAD.0b013e31822381fas
Setterfield J, Sciot R, Debiec-Rychter M, Robson A, Calonje E: Primary cutaneous epidermotropic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with t(2;13) in an elderly woman: Case report and review of the literature. Am J Surg Pathol. 2002, 26 (7): 938-944. 10.1097/00000478-200207000-00014.
Yang C-Y, Shih I-H, Wang C-M, Hang-Leong-Chan : Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with skin invasion mimicking a perianal abcess. Dermatol Sinica. 2000, 18: 219-222.
Carroll SJ, Nodit L: Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma: a brief diagnostic review and differential diagnosis. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013, 137 (8): 1155-1158. 10.5858/arpa.2012-0465-RS.
Whang-Peng J, Knustsen T, Theil K, Horowitz ME, Triche T: Cytogenetic studies in subgroups of rhabdomyosarcoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 1992, 5 (4): 299-310. 10.1002/gcc.2870050405.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Emedits Global Ltd for editorial support in the preparation of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
FE was involved in the analysis of the data and the literature research, and she also wrote the manuscript. IO helped with the patient management, revision of the manuscript and the literature research. NB, SB and HM helped with modifications and revision of the manuscript. ST, BE performed the histological examination. HE approved the treatment and analyzed the literature data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Authors’ original submitted files for images
Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.
Rights and permissions
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.
About this article
Cite this article
Elomrani, F., Touri, S., Ouziane, I. et al. Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma with skin metastasis: a case report. BMC Res Notes 7, 670 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-670
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-670
Keywords
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Cutaneous metastasis
- Immunohistochemistry
- Treatment
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy