When Rarity Meets Complexity: The Challenge of Sinonasal Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma—A Case Report
摘要
Adult sinonasal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignancy, representing a unique convergence of an uncommon histologic subtype, atypical anatomical site, and unusual patient demography. Rhabdomyosarcoma—a malignant soft tissue sarcoma is believed to originate from primitive mesenchymal cells that typically differentiate into skeletal tissue predominantly affects children, with adult cases constituting only 1–2% of occurrences, and involvement of the sinonasal tract is even more infrequent. The alveolar variant is associated with a poorer prognosis and often presents late due to its deep-seated location and nonspecific symptoms. This rare tumor in an uncommon site and host demands high clinical suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and a coordinated multimodal treatment strategy to improve outcomes in this challenging subset of patients. We report a case of a 37-year-old female who presented with acute-onset, nonspecific ocular and nasal symptoms, and was subsequently diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma originating of the sinonasal region. The treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiotherapy. Although the prognosis for localized rhabdomyosarcoma is generally favourable with a high chance of cure, outcomes for patients with metastatic disease remain dismal. Despite advancements in both diagnostic and treatment modalities, metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma continues to carry a poor prognosis.