FETAL EXTRA-CARDIAC RHABDOMYOMA

Rhabdomyomas are benign rumors of striated muscle. They are distinguis hed by topographic data : cardiac or genital and by histological crite ria :foetal or adult type. The foetal type is the most heterogeneous, with either a majority of immature cells or a mixture of maturing elem ents. This diversity has led to distinguish immature (or standard) foe tal Rhabdomyomas from intermediate foetal Rhabdomyomas. One observatio n of this last type is reported. The authors highlight the essential c haracteristics of foetal Rhabdomyomas. however the exact meaning remai ns unclear: an anomaly in the differentiation of the striated muscle ? or a true tumoral process through generic anomaly ?.