Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor of the Orbit

A 36-month-old girl had a 3-week history of proptosis of the right eye. Computed tomography showed an ill-defined homogeneous mass filling the intraconal space. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry findings of an incisional biopsy specimen were consistent with malignant undifferentiated tumor with rhabdoid features. Despite chemotherapy (a combination of vincristine sulfate and dactinomycin) and radiotherapy, massive orbital recurrence occurred 6 months later and orbital exenteration was performed. The recurrent tumor was composed entirely of pleomorphic epithelial cells with prominent nucleoli and many filamentous cytoplasmic inclusions. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive immunoreactivity for vimentin, cytokeratin, and epithelial membrane antigen, and negative immunoreactivity for muscle-specific antigen, melanoma, neural, and histiocytic markers. Electron microscopy excluded myogenic differentiation and showed that the filamentous cytoplasmic inclusions were composed of whorls of intermediate filaments. Aggressive chemotherapy with a combination of vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and etoposide phosphate was continued after exenteration. At 17 months’ follow-up, orbital debulking surgery with externalization of the maxillary sinus was performed because of massive tumor recurrence in the right orbit and growth into the maxillary sinus. The child died 23 months after initial diagnosis from tumor invasion into the central nervous system. Extrarenal rhabdoid tumor is a rare orbital mass that carries a poor prognosis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:243-246