Rhabdomyosarcoma
Description of Rhabdomyosarcoma
A rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of cancer, specifically a sarcoma (cancer of connective tissues), in which the cancer cells are thought to arise from skeletal muscle progenitors. It can also be found attached to muscle tissue, wrapped around intestines, or anywhere, to include the neck area. It is most common in children ages one to five, and teens aged 15 to 19, although quite rare in the latter. It can be a cardiac manifestation of tuberous sclerosis.
The two most common forms of rhabdomyosarcoma (which is a relatively rare form of cancer) are embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. In the former, the cancer cells resemble those of a typical 6-to-8-week embryo. In the latter, they resemble those of a typical 10-to-12-week embryo. The former is more common in younger children, and the latter in older children and teenagers.