Small bowel metastasis from embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the extremity– a case report

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumour in children and adolescents, but extremely rare in adults with comparatively  worse outcomes. Metastatic disease is not uncommon, but intra-abdominal metastases are exceedingly rare. We report an unusual case  of ileal metastases from an upper extremity rhabdomyosarcoma in a 17-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain during a  routine follow-up visit. Laparotomy and ileocecectomy for a perforated ileal mass confirmed metastatic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma  with 1 out of 14 positive lymph node metastases. This case demonstrates that, although rare, intra-abdominal metastases should be  considered when patients with a rhabdomyosarcoma present with abdominal complaints.