[A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the parotid region]. / A proposito di un caso di rabdomiosarcoma della regione parotidea.

The present paper reports a case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a 4-year-old patient, the rapidity with which it spread and the intensity of its extension bringing the case under observation. It is, in fact, a case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma localized in the right parotid area with an extension to the temporal fossa, to the epi-oro-hypopharynx as far as the lateral vertebral region with C5-C6 involvement and penetrating the medium cranialis fossa. Initially the child showed signs of tissue growth at the right parotid site, originating without symptoms and rapidly increasing in volume. As exploratory surgery revealed that it would be impossible to achieve radical removal of the growth, the authors opted for radio-chemotherapy treatment. This type of approach, however, gives short lived results, in this case evidenced by recurrences within six months and leading to the patient's death after just eight months. It is important to stress the rapid evolution of this neoplasm, its tendency to recur and metastasize as well as its poor prognosis in general.