Imaging insights suggesting a sinister cause of a breast mass in adolescents: A case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a teenager

Abstract

Background: Sarcomas of the breast are exceedingly rare, accounting for less than 1% of malignant breast tumors, with primary rhabdomyosarcomas being even rarer. Due to the scarcity of reported cases, the imaging characteristics of breast rhabdomyosarcoma are not well-defined, making diagnosis challenging, especially in adolescents. Case description: We present the case of a 17-year-old female diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma following a comprehensive workup for right breast masses. Initial imaging showed no distant metastasis, and the patient underwent a right mastectomy followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. A few months post-treatment, she developed recurrent nodules in the chest wall. Further investigation confirmed the recurrence of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Conclusions: This case underscores the importance of considering primary rhabdomyosarcoma as a differential diagnosis in adolescent breast lesions. Given its rare occurrence and potential imaging overlap with more common tumors like cystosarcoma phyllodes, awareness and careful evaluation are critical for accurate diagnosis and timely management.

Keywords

• primary breast rhabdomyosarcoma
• embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
• pediatric breast tumors