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A case of primary botryoid conjunctival rhabdomyosarcoma

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Abstract

Background

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common childhood primary orbital malignancy, but the occurrence of this tumour in the conjunctiva is rare.

Methods

A 14-year-old girl presented with a visible case of conjunctival mass in the left eye. The year before, the patient was referred to another hospital for a biopsy of a conjunctival mesenchymal tumour in the same site, which was periodically checked after the excision. We intervened by partially removing the conjunctival mass.

Results

The histopathology revealed a botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy and fractionated radiotherapy. The follow-up after three years revealed that the patient remained clinically tumor-free, with no ocular complication from the radiotherapy.

Conclusion

It is evident that by not excising the tumour in its entirety it is therefore possible to preserve the underlying rectus muscles and not interfere with ocular motility. Subsequent radiotherapy and chemotherapy helped to destroy any residual tumour. Alternatively, surgical excision of the mass alone could lead to recurrence of the tumour after some months or years.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery, University of Siena, via A. De Gasperi 3, Sienna, 53100, Italy

    Ennio Polito, Patrizia Pichierri, Antonio Loffredo & Giacomo Lasorella

Authors
  1. Ennio Polito
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  2. Patrizia Pichierri
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  3. Antonio Loffredo
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  4. Giacomo Lasorella
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ennio Polito.

Additional information

The authors have no proprietary interest in the development or marketing of any drug, instruments, or piece of equipment mentioned in this study

Ennio Polito had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis

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Polito, E., Pichierri, P., Loffredo, A. et al. A case of primary botryoid conjunctival rhabdomyosarcoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 244, 517–519 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0085-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0085-5

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