Background

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a rare type of soft tissue tumor [1]. It predominates in children less than 7 years old while a second peak is observed in adolescence; the two subtypes that affect both child and adult are embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas. A third subtype, the pleomorphic RMS occurs almost exclusively in adults [2]. The most common sites are cervical-cephalic and genitourinary [3]. Perineal and anal localizations are rarer and have worse prognosis [4].

We report the case of a 22-year-old patient with ERMS of the perineum extended at the scrotum and penis with inguinal lymph node involvement.

Case presentation

A 22-year-old African man without specific medical history was admitted for a perineal mass evolving over 6 months, which was painful, and had appeared spontaneously. An examination found tenesmus, obstinate constipation, and dysuria. It revealed a dry perineal swelling, which was painless, and extended back to his anus, scrotum and penis. His testicles were mobile, and there were enlarged and fixed lymphadenopathies (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Dry whole perineal swelling with inguinal node involvement

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A pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan found a large mass on his perineum, fairly limited, driving his testicles forward, with regional lymphadenopathies without secondary lesion.

A pathological examination of the biopsy fragments taken under ultrasound showed a tumor proliferation composed of small-sized cell nuclei with an increase in the nucleocytoplasmic ratio, with a fairly monomorphic appearance and associated with mitotic figures. These cells were disposed around slots. Some cells had an eosinophilic cytoplasm appearance (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Increase in the nucleocytoplasmic ratio, monomorphic appearance, and eosinophilic cytoplasm appearance

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At immune marking, NCAM and myogenin (Figs. 3 and 4) were strongly positive, while CKAE1/AE3 antibody, CD45, synaptophysin, and chromogranin were negative. Our patient was classified T2N1M0 and then considered as stage III.

Fig. 3
figure 3

NCAM- and myogenin-positive coloration - low magnification

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Fig. 4
figure 4

NCAM- and myogenin-positive coloration - high magnification

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Outcome was quickly marked by anal obstruction and colostomy. He died after 6 months of follow-up with only supportive care.

Discussion

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor with an estimated incidence of 0.45 to 0.69 cases per 100,000. This case is the first case in more than 20,000 patients in our practice. The incidence of RMS in general, and embryonic RMS especially, has a peak in young children between 0 and 4 years. The incidence decreases followed by another smaller peak between 15 and 19 years. After 19 years, the incidence decreases rapidly from 0.16 per 100,000 population between 20 and 24 years to 0.08 per 100,000 in the class of 25–29 years [1]. Definitive diagnosis is based on histological examination. A surgical biopsy is recommended. The needle biopsy is usually reserved for small lesions located in areas to be treated with radiation or chemotherapy or metastatic lesions [4]. The site of the lesion led us to a biopsy. CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) morphological examinations are the most used in the expansion of the RMS balance sheet. A CT scan is advantageous for evaluation of bone lesions and abdominal lymphadenopathies. A MRI scan provides a better definition of the primary tumor and its relations with neighboring organs [4]. In our patient, CT was sufficient to characterize the lesion and examine the locoregional extension.

Embryonal RMS generally has an intermediate prognosis [2]. However, perineal locations have the worst predictions because they are usually diagnosed at a late stage [4]. The best prognostic factors in the perineal location are stage I with small size, less than 5 cm, absence of nodal involvement, and young age, less than 10 years [4]. The histological type in this location does not seem to impact overall survival [4].

The metastatic testicular damage in the ERMS has been rarely described. Gow et al. [5] reported two cases of metastatic testicular damage in ERMS in two young subjects [5]. In the case of our patient it is unclear whether the testicular damage was the result of contiguity or rather the metastatic disease.

For our patient, a temporary colostomy was indicated; it is often necessary in case of anal obstruction [4].

The oncological surgical treatment includes a complete resection of the original site with a circumferential margin of at least 0.5 cm [4]. In the anal and perineal locations, difficulties stem from the vicinity of the anal sphincter, urethra, and genitalia. In the case of our patient surgical resection was not considered because of the anal, penile, and scrotal involvement. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy seemed to be the best alternative.

Nowadays, almost all patients with ERMS receive chemotherapy [4]. The most widely used protocol combines vincristine, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide (VAC). New protocols based on ifosfamide and etoposide were used in combination with VAC in therapeutic trials with greater local control and better survival at 3 years than VAC only. These results suggest that the combination of ifosfamide-etoposide and VAC could be beneficial for advanced ERMS [6]. Other molecules such as irinotecan appear to be useful in the treatment of advanced ERMS [7]. After resection or biopsy, patients requiring radiotherapy are those having a microscopic or macroscopic residue. For many patients, radiation seems to be important to local disease control and survival [4]. At this localization, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma seems to have better outcome than alveolar cases. Anal infiltration and lymph node involvement, as in our patient, are the main prognosis factors [8, 9].

Conclusions

We reported a case of embryonal RMS extended to the perineum, scrotum, and penis with lymph node and testicular metastasis in 22-old-year African man. This is a rare condition. Treatment is based on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, and prognosis depends on location and regional extension. Death occurs in the case of extended and nonresectable disease.