Clinicopathological analysis of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological change in primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear, and its differential diagnosis with infantile rhabdomyosarcoma, primary neuro-ectodermoma, and malignant rhabdomyoma. Methods Gross and microscopic examination and immunohistochemical staining were performed in 8 cases of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of ear. Results Seven male and one female patients with mean age of 7.4 years were found. The tumor was diagnosed as embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in 7 patients, and botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma in 1 patient. Immunostaining revealed that vimentin and myoglobin were 100% positive, desmin in 75% and actin in 82%. Conclusions Although the histological appearance of primary ear rhabdomyosarcoma does not differ from those found in other soft tissues, its clinicopathological diagnosis may be difficult in some cases, and further immunohistochemical analyses, may be necessary for a correct diagnosis. Its differential diagnosis includes infantile rhabdomyofibrosarcoma, primary neuroectodermal tumor and malignant rhabdoid tumor.