Sarcomas are a form of cancer that originates in the body's soft tissues (fleshy components), as well as bone and fatty tissue. This is a distinct form of cancer from carcinomas. Carcinomas occur more frequently throughout the organs of the body, particularly those that contain glands. Colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, Lung cancer, and breast cancer are all examples of carcinomas.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is an uncommon type of cancer that develops in the skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones. They aid in the movement of the body. The majority of rhabdomyosarcomas occur in children and adolescents.
Rhabdomyosarcoma can develop itself in any location on the body. It most frequently manifests itself in the legs, bladder, head & neck, arms reproductive organs, chest, and abdomen. Rhabdomyosarcoma has a high proclivity for metastasizing to other organs.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is classified into two kinds.
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is most frequently found in children younger than the age of six.
Typically, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma occurs in older children or adolescents. It is more aggressive in nature than embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.
The least frequent kind is anaplastic rhabdomyosarcoma. Adults are more prone to develop it than children.
Symptoms
The symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma are quite variable and are mostly determined by the size and location of the disease. These tumors may not manifest symptoms until they reach a certain size.
Symptoms include the following:
Continual lump or swelling in the body, which may be painful
Bulging or drooping eyelids
Having difficulty urinating or passing stools
Urine containing blood
Symptoms of earache or sinus infection
Nasal, throat, vaginal, or rectum bleeding
Constipation, nausea, and stomach pain
These symptoms do not always indicate malignancy. However, it is critical to consult your physician if you or your kid encounter any of these symptoms.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will do a physical examination and review your medical history to check for indicators of disease. He or she will elicit information about your health habits, as well as previous diseases and treatments.
Your doctor may also advise you to get one or more of the following tests: Additionally, a combination of the following tests and treatments will be required for diagnosis:
X-ray. Makes images of tissues, bones, and organs using energy beams.
CT scan. Utilizes a revolving x-ray camera to get comprehensive cross-sectional images of the tumor and to determine if it has spread to other organs (for example, the lungs or abdomen).
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Utilizes a powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body.
PET scan: Doctors occasionally use this test to determine whether and where cancer has spread.
Bone scan: To determine whether cancer cells have moved to the bone, a scanner and low-level radioactive material are used.
Biopsy. Cells or tissues are extracted for evaluation during surgery. Biopsies can be conducted with or without a needle. Pathologists, who are specially trained physicians, can then examine the tissue under a microscope.
Aspiration and biopsy of bone marrow. Bone and bone marrow fluid is extracted from the lower back and pelvis in order to determine if the malignancy has spread.
Staging
Staging determines the amount of cancer present, as well as its location and extent of spread. Three factors determine the stage of rhabdomyosarcoma:
Rhabdomyosarcoma type
Alveolar or embryonic
Clinical group
Rhabdomyosarcoma is classified according to its clinical characteristics (I-IV). The classification is based on the severity of the disease and the amount of tumor excised initially during surgery.
TNM rating
The TNM rating is based on the following:
T (tumor size)
N (whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes)
M. (whether cancer has spread to distant organs)
The patient is then classified as low, intermediate, or high risk, depending on the chance that cancer has metastasized (spread) or will do so in the future.
Expected Timeframe
Rhabdomyosarcoma will continue to grow indefinitely unless and until it is treated. If left untreated, it has the potential to spread to other parts of the body.
Prevention
Certain hereditary conditions make rhabdomyosarcoma more likely to occur. These include a variety of genetic disorders that increase a person's risk of developing this type of cancer, as well as the following cancers:
Syndrome Li-Fraumeni
Type 1 neurofibromatosis
Syndrome Beckwith-Wiedemann
Costello syndrome
The Noonan syndrome
There are no recognized risk factors for this condition that may be prevented. Genetic testing may assist in identifying further family members who may be at risk of developing this type of sarcoma or other types of cancer.