Rhabdomyosarcoma

Alternative names:

embryonal cell sarcoma; sarcoma botryoides

Symptoms:

Symptoms may vary depending on location of the tumor. Tumors in the vagina may be visible protruding from the opening of the vagina. Bladder and vaginal tumors may cause urinary or bowel obstruction. Tumors in the nose or throat may cause bleeding, congestion, swallowing problems or neurological problems if they extend into the brain. Tumors in the muscles may appear as a painful lump and are often thought to be an injury. However, they do not go away but continue to grow.

Signs and tests:

• biopsy, tumor (demonstrates rhabdomyosarcoma)
• CT scan, head (demonstrates tumor and possible invasion of central nervous system)
• ultrasound (demonstrates tumor of nasopharynx, throat)
• cystourethrogram (demonstrates bladder tumors)
• pelvic examination (direct visualization of the tumor)
• X-ray chest (may demonstrate metastasis)
• bone marrow (may demonstrate metastasis)