Two "childhood" malignancies in an elderly individual: a case report and discussion

Med Oncol. 2010 Sep;27(3):876-9. doi: 10.1007/s12032-009-9299-4. Epub 2009 Sep 4.

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue tumor in childhood, but is extremely rare in elderly. We present a rare case of cardiac RMS, which developed 1 year after the diagnosis and management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a 68-year-old female. The occurrence of such phenomena is intriguing, especially in an individual without prior history of malignancy at a younger age. Through the review of the existing literature, we attempt to approach the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of this rare clinical entity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Heart Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Heart Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Heart Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / etiology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary* / etiology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / diagnosis
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / drug therapy
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / epidemiology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / pathology
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma* / diagnosis
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma* / drug therapy
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma* / epidemiology
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma* / pathology
  • Time Factors