Definition:
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, also alternatively called sarcoma botryoides, is a rare form of vaginal cancer affecting female infants and children under 8 years old.
Treatment:
In the past, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was almost invariably fatal and treated with radical surgery. However, a new approach in the form of multi-drug chemotherapy regimens (with or without radiation therapy) has demonstrated some proven efficacy.
Symptoms and Signs:
The most common clinical symptom of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is vaginal bleeding. However, this symptom is not unique to embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and may be attributed to other types of vaginal cancers. An important diagnostic step is, therefore, eliminating other possible causes of vaginal bleeding.
On average, symptoms of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma present at age 3. While associated mostly in young children, isolated cases of the disease occurring in adult females have also been reported.
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