A Case of Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Nasal Cavity in an Adult: An Unusual Location

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a common soft tissue tumor in children but rare in adults. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma represents a subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma, extremely rare in adults, especially within the nasal cavities. Therapeutic protocols for adults are often based on those used in pediatric cases.We present the case of a 56-year-old female patient with a history of breast cancer who developed alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the nasal cavity, stage III, managed initially with chemotherapy resulting in partial response. Subsequently, the patient underwent concomitant chemoradiotherapy. The clinical course was marked by local remission with metastatic progression after 18 months. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is uncommon in adults, and its therapeutic management remains nonstandardized. However, it is typically based on initial chemotherapy followed by local treatment.Despite therapeutic advances, the prognosis remains poor.