What are rhabdomyosarcomas?

Rhabdomyosarcomas are rare soft tissue sarcomas derived from skeletal muscle progenitor cells. They can occur at any age, but most commonly affect children and adolescents. Rhabdomyosarcomas can occur anywhere in the body, but are most commonly found in the head, neck, genitourinary tract, and extremities.

Rhabdomyosarcomas are classified into several subtypes based on their location and histopathology. The most common subtype is the embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, which accounts for approximately 60% of all cases. Other subtypes include the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, and spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcomas are typically treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The prognosis for rhabdomyosarcomas depends on the subtype, stage, and location of the tumor. The 5-year survival rate for all rhabdomyosarcomas is approximately 65%.