Bone marrow metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma mimicking acute leukemia: a case report and review of the literature

Intern Med. 2015;54(6):643-50. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.2473. Epub 2015 Jan 15.

Abstract

Bone marrow metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma has been reported to be difficult to distinguish from acute leukemia. We herein describe a case of rhabdomyosarcoma with bone marrow metastasis mimicking acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A 29-year-old woman was admitted with thrombocytopenia, blast-like cells in the peripheral blood and a coagulation disorder. Bone marrow aspirates showed 94.8% blast-like cell infiltration (CD45(-), myeloperoxidase(-), and CD56(+)), and CT scan revealed the presence of an infiltrating mass in the nasal cavity. Based on a biopsy of the nasal cavity, the patient was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma exhibiting bone marrow metastasis. She received chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy, and has since remained alive for 26 months, as of the last follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bone Marrow / pathology*
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / complications
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / diagnosis*
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / complications
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / secondary*
  • Thrombocytopenia / etiology*
  • Treatment Outcome