Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Larynx: a case report

Reprint requests to: Dr. Wen-Pin Chen Department of Radiology, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital. No. 539, Chung Hsiao Road, Chiayi 600, Taiwan, R.O.C. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents approximately 4% of all childhood tumor. A third of all RMSs occur in the head and neck region. Laryngeal involvement by RMS is extremely rare. Herein we report a case of a 21-year-old man with the complaint of dysphagia and hoarseness for 2 months. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a well-demarcated laryngeal mass with non-specific signal intensities and enhancement. Pathologic result revealed embryonal RMS. More than 95% of laryngeal tumors in adults are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). RMS is the most common soft tissue sarcoma and the second most frequent head and neck malignancy in children and adolescents. But it is rarely occurred in the larynx [1-3]. The diagnosis of RMS was established on the basis of the pathologic examinations. Herein we report a case of embryonal RMS involving the larynx and demonstrate the f indings of laryngoscope, MRI and pathology.