The pathological and cytogenetic features of an extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) arising from the paravertebral region in an infant were investigated. The patient died 4 months after diagnosis, due to aggressive tumor progression. The tumor was composed of medium-sized round cells with cytoplasm containing eosinophilic inclusions, which ultrastructurally were composed of densely packed whorled intermediate filaments. Flow-cytometric analysis of the tumor cells revealed a diploid pattern. Amplification of the N-myc oncogene was not identified. Immunohistologically, the inclusion bodies showed a positive reaction with antiserum against vimentin. The tumor cells were not reactive with antiserum against epithelial membrane antigen, anti-keratin (polyclonal) or cytokeratin (monoclonal, CK1), but did react with 5H10, an antiserum established from human sarcomatous Wilms' tumor. This case is discussed with reference to the literature on extrarenal MRT, placing stress on the histogenesis of this tumor.