Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma in adults. A case report and literature review

Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, a recently described variant of embryonal rh abdomyosarcoma in children, carries a favorable prognosis when compared wit h other types of rhabdomyosarcoma. This tumor is rare in adults, and only f our cases have been documented previously. The clinicopathological study of such a case occurring in the retroperitoneal space of a 53-year-old man is herein reported. The patient died of uncontrolled local recurrence and hep atic metastases seven months after diagnosis. Based on the analysis of the data of the five cases reported, including the present one, it can be state d that spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma in adults is not associated with the f avorable outcome observed in the pediatric population.