Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma - Lymph Node Metastases

Comments:
Metastasis of Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS): Metastases are present in about 20% of RMS at the time of diagnosis. The most common sites for metastases are lung, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, followed by heart, brain, meninges, pancreas, liver, and kidneys.

Lymph node metastasis is more frequent with RMS of the prostate, paratesticular region, and the extremities. In alveolar RMS, lymph node metastasis or multiple skin metastases may be the presenting feature of the disease. Cardiac metastases are common in RMS.

The alveolar pattern of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is preserved even in metastatic deposits. The image shows metastatic ARMS in a cervical lymph node.