Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Inguinal Region Mimicking a Complicated Hernia in the Adult—An Unexpected Finding

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare tumor that is diagnosed mostly in children and adolescents, rarely in adults, representing 2–5% of all soft tissue sarcomas. It has four subtypes that are recognized: embryonal (50%), alveolar (20%), pleomorphic (20%), and spindle cell/sclerosing (10%). The diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma is based on the histological detection of rhabdomyoblasts and the expression of muscle-related biomarkers. Spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma consists morphologically of fusiform cells with vesicular chromatin arranged in a storiform pattern or long fascicles, with occasional rhabdomyoblasts. Also, dense, collagenous, sclerotic stroma may be seen more commonly in adults. We present a rare case of an adult who presented to the hospital with a tumor in the left inguinal area, was first diagnosed with a left strangulated inguinal hernia and was operated on as an emergency, although the diagnosis was ultimately a spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma of the inguinal region.

Keywords

• rhabdomyosarcoma
• spindle cell
• inguinal
• hernia
• adult