Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the floor of the mouth

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a neoplasm composed of striated muscle. One of the most common types of soft tissue mesenchymal tumors in infants, children, and adolescents, rhabdomyosarcoma was considered an almost uniformly fatal cancer as recently as 30 years ago. Presently a multimodal approach consisting of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy has significantly improved the outlook for the patient with rhabdomyosarcoma. This article presents a case of intraoral rhabdomyosarcoma that was initially poorly controlled because of a lack of patient compliance. After proper treatment, the cancer went into remission. The patient remained cancer-free for 7 years, albeit with significant morbidity. This case demonstrates the significantly improved prognosis achieved with multimodal therapy.