Primary Conjunctival Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma in an 8-Year-Old Girl

Abstract

Introduction: Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare paediatric cancer, with the head and neck region representing a major anatomical site for rhabdomyosarcoma. In particular, orbital rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common region among children. However, rhabdomyosarcoma originating from the conjunctiva in paediatric population is a rare disease, and this knowledge is essential in order to ensure prompt treatment and early intervention.

Case presentation: We discuss a rare case of primary conjunctival rhabdomyosarcoma in an 8-year-old Caucasian girl. She presented to a paediatric ophthalmology clinic with a 5-day history of a rapidly growing conjunctival lesion in the superior fornix of the right eye. An urgent excisional biopsy was performed which yielded a large 30-mm multilobulated, vascular, and papillomatous specimen with histopathological features consistent with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. She was urgently referred to oncology and was treated with systemic chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Therapeutical options and prognosis of rhabdomyosarcomas are based on clinical findings, tumour staging, and grouping, combined with histopathological and molecular features. Although rare, it is important to note that in the paediatric population, rhabdomyosarcoma can originate from the conjunctiva. Knowledge of its clinical, histopathological, and imaging characteristics is essential in order to achieve early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Keywords: Case report; Conjunctiva; Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma; Paediatrics; Rhabdomyosarcoma.