Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Inguinal Region Mimicking a Complicated Hernia in the Adult—An Unexpected Finding

• Published in: Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Vol. 59; no. 9; p. 1515
• Main Authors: Grigorean, Valentin Titus, Serescu, Radu, Anica, Andrei, Coman, Violeta Elena, Bedereag, Ştefan Iulian, Sfetea, Roxana Corina, Liţescu, Mircea, Pleşea, Iancu Emil, Florea, Costin George, Burleanu, Cosmin, Erchid, Anwar, Coman, Ionuţ Simion
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Abdomen; adult; Adults; Biopsy; Case Report; Emergency medical care; Health aspects; Hernia; Hernias; inguinal; Lymphatic system; Magnetic resonance imaging; Musculoskeletal system; Radiation therapy; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Sarcoma; spindle cell; Topography; Vincristine; Romania
• ISSN: 1648-9144; 1010-660X; 1648-9144
• DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091515

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare tumor that is diagnosed mostly in children and adolescents, rarely in adults, representing 2–5% of all soft tissue sarcomas. It has four subtypes that are recognized: embryonal (50%), alveolar (20%), pleomorphic (20%), and spindle cell/sclerosing (10%). The diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma is based on the histological detection of rhabdomyoblasts and the expression of muscle-related biomarkers. Spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma consists morphologically of fusiform cells with vesicular chromatin arranged in a storiform pattern or long fascicles, with occasional rhabdomyoblasts. Also, dense, collagenous, sclerotic stroma may be seen more commonly in adults. We present a rare case of an adult who presented to the hospital with a tumor in the left inguinal area, was first diagnosed with a left strangulated inguinal hernia and was operated on as an emergency, although the diagnosis was ultimately a spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma of the inguinal region.