Alveolar ethmoidal rhabdomyosarcoma in a young adult male

Abstract

We report a 22-year-old man who presented with a 3 week history of left-sided headache, orbital pain and epiphora progressing to diplopia. He was being treated by his general practitioner with a β-blocker and simple analgesia for possible diagnosis of cluster headaches. Initial examination revealed a reduction in visual acuity and poor abduction and upward gaze. Routine blood tests were normal. CT imaging was reported as a left ethmoid sinusitis with extension into a left orbit subperiosteal abscess. No pus was obtained on frontal sinus trephine and a biopsy was taken, which proved to be an alveolar-type rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient has completed a full course of chemoradiotherapy and has responded well to the treatment. His vision is back to normal and an MRI has shown complete regression of tumour. Copyright 2013 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.