pediatrics
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Introduction
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancer arising from embryonal mesenchymal cells that have potential to differentiate into skeletal muscle cells. It can arise from almost any type of muscle tissue in any location, resulting in highly variable clinical manifestations. Cancers are typically detected by CT or MRI, and diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy. Treatment involves surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the third most common solid cancer outside the central nervous system in children (after Wilms Tumor and Two thirds of rhabdomyosarcomas are diagnosed in children<7 years of age. The disease is more common among White children than Black children (largely because frequency is lower in Black girls) and is slightly more common among boys than girls. Even though rhabdomyosarcomas can occur in both children and adults, they differ significantly in terms of histologic type, site of disease, and overall outcome ( References ). 