Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant (cancerous), soft tissue tumor found most often in children. The most common sites are the structures of the head and neck, the urogenital tract, and the arms or legs.
The cause of rhabdomyosarcoma is unknown. It is a rare tumor with only several hundred new cases per year throughout the United States. Some children with certain birth defects are at increased risk, and some families have a gene mutation that elevates risk. However, the vast majority of children with rhabdomyosarcoma do not have any known risk factors.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on location of the tumor. Tumors in the nose or throat may cause bleeding, congestion, swallowing problems, or neurological problems if they extend into the brain.
Tumors in the vagina may be visibly protruding from the opening of the vagina. Bladder and vaginal tumors may cause urinary or bowel obstruction. Tumors in the muscles may appear as a painful lump and are often thought to be an injury. However, they do not go away, but continue to grow, even though they may not continue to be painful.
Diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma is often delayed because of lack of symptoms, and because the tumor may appear at the same time as a recent injury. Early diagnosis is important because rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive tumor that spreads quickly.
Liver disease (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The term"liver disease" applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or cease functioning. Abnormal results of liver function tests often suggest liver disease.Reviewer: Jennifer K. Mannheim, CRNP, private practice, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/27/2008
Esophageal cancer (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Esophageal cancer is a malignant(cancerous) tumor of the esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach.Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (4/8/2008).Date: 07/22/2008
Cancer - renal pelvis or ureter (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter is cancer that forms in the pelvis or the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter.Cancer can grow in the urine collection system, but is unc...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/10/2008
Cancer - throat or larynx (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cancer of the throat is cancer of the vocal cords, voice box(larynx), or other areas of the throat.Vocal cord cancer; Throat cancer; Laryngeal cancer; Cancer of the glottis.People who smoke or otherwise use tobacco are at risk of developing throat...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/12/2009
Salivary gland disorders (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Salivary gland disorders are conditions that lead to swelling or pain in the saliva-producing tissues around the mouth.The salivary glands produce saliva(spit), which moistens food to aid chewing and swallowing. Saliva contains enzymes that begin ...Reviewer: James L. Demetroulakos, MD, FACS, Department of Otolaryngology, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. Clinical Instructor in Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/03/2009
Bladder cancer (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bladder cancer is a cancerous tumor in the bladder-- the organ that holds urine.In the United States, bladder cancers usually start from the cells lining the bladder(transitional cells).These tumors may be classified based on the way they grow:.Pa...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/12/2009
Tumor
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous(malignant) or non-cancerous(benign).In general, tumors appear to occur when there is a problem with the dividing of cells in the body. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/03/2008
Salivary gland tumors (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Salivary gland tumors are abnormal cells growing in the ducts that drain the salivary glands.The salivary glands are located around the mouth. They produce saliva, which moistens food to aid chewing and swallowing.Saliva contains enzymes that begi...Reviewer: Stephen Grund, MD, PhD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/24/2008
Cancer
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.Cells are the building blocks of living things. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/02/2008
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