CUTANEOUS RHABDOMYOSARCOMA

Objective. The occurrence of a rare alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in a 16- year old girl seems worth of a case report. Observation. A large multi nodular tumor developed on the buttocks and the external genitalia; sy stemic symptoms and metastases of lymph nodes and skin occurred very s oon and the disease had a lethal outcome within 16 months. A temporary regression was observed after polychemotherapy with daunorubicine, vi ncritine and 5-fluoro-uracile. Comments. In children the rhabdomyosarc oma is the most frequent sarcoma of soft tissues; the poor prognosis o f the alveolar type is assessed by the case of this 16-year old girl; this tumor may progress as a systemic disease and present as a leukemi a with rapid impairment of general health, enlargement of lymph nodes, cutaneous nodules and anemia.