University of Toronto Combined Neurosciences Rounds — Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Head and Neck in Children

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck region in children frequently presents with otolaryngologic symptoms. But tumours which arise along the cranial base and involve the middle ear, mastoid or nasopharynx may be associated with specific neurological phenomena (Fleischer et al., 1975). The following case illustrates these points. It also records the unusual development of remote, intradural metastatic disease. Rhabdomyosarcoma rarely gains access to the subarachnoid space. When it does, the route of penetration is usually directly from ear through internal auditory meatus to cerebellopontine angle (Russell and Rubinstein, 1970). Our case developed a metastatic intradural spinal lesion without interposed disease.