Skeletal muscle sarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that is typically seen in children but may be seen in adults rarely. However, it can be malignant when it develops in adults, meaning it grows and spreads quickly to other parts of your body.
Skeletal muscle sarcoma can form anywhere in your body. The symptoms of skeletal muscle sarcoma depend on where the tumor has formed in your body. Please consult your physician if you find any abnormal lump or experience pain, heavy bleeding while urinating, or troubled bowel movements.
The treatment for skeletal muscle sarcoma in adults can include a combination of traditional treatments (such as surgery and radiation) and new treatments (like clinical trials and targeted therapy). At Sarcoma Oncology Center, we provide personalized treatment plans to treat skeletal muscle sarcoma based on your needs.
Skeletal muscle sarcoma, or rhabdomyosarcoma, is a malignant type of soft tissue sarcoma that originates in cells called rhabdomyoblasts.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the medical term for a type of tumor that originates in cells (called rhabdomyoblasts) that develop into skeletal muscles. Every person is born with these cells, which start in the embryo. However, sometimes these cells develop into RMS.
While this disease can strike adults, it is primarily common in children because of its embryonic origins.
While skeletal muscles are found mainly in arms and legs, they also exist elsewhere in your body. Therefore, skeletal muscle sarcoma can start nearly anywhere.
Common sites of rhabdomyosarcoma include:
Skeletal muscle sarcomas are classified into four main forms.
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is a common type of skeletal muscle sarcoma that mostly affects children under five years of age, with a smaller peak in adolescence.
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma mainly occurs in the head and neck area, bladder, vagina, or near the prostate and testicles. Symptoms of this type of skeletal muscle sarcoma include sinusitis, unilateral deafness, urinary retention, and jaundice.
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is mostly seen in adolescents and young adults. This type of sarcoma often occurs in large muscles of the trunk, arms, and legs. The growth rate of the tumor is fast, and it usually requires more intense treatment.
Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare subtype of skeletal muscle sarcomas that occurs in older adults (60–70 years of age). It is less common in children.
The tumor often arises in the lower extremities, such as the leg, ankle, and foot, but can also develop in the head and neck. The tumor grows quickly and requires intensive treatment.
Spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare subtype of skeletal muscle sarcomas that can affect all age groups. In adults, it mostly develops in the head and neck. In children, it occurs mostly in the paratesticular region, followed by the head and neck.
The exact cause of skeletal muscle sarcomas is not clear. It initiates when a soft tissue cell undergoes DNA alterations. Subsequently, rhabdomyoblast cells may aggregate to form a tumor mass, which can invade and damage surrounding healthy tissues.
Over time, tumor cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body. When a tumor spreads to other body parts, it is called metastasis.
Symptoms of skeletal muscle sarcomas depend on where the tumor starts in your body.
If the tumor is in the head or neck area, symptoms may include:
If the tumor is in the urinary or reproductive system, you may experience the following symptoms:
If the skeletal muscle sarcoma is in the arms or legs, symptoms may include:
If the skeletal muscle sarcoma develops in children, symptoms may include:
Diagnostic tests for skeletal muscle sarcoma depend on where the tumor has formed in your body. Your doctor may ask for the following tests and procedures:
Treatment of skeletal muscle sarcoma often combines standard treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy with new types of treatment. It requires multi-modal, personalized treatment plans.
At Sarcoma Oncology Center, our team collaborates with surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and radiation oncologists from other prominent institutions to ensure that the complexity of each patient’s case is addressed in its entirety.
We ensure that each patient’s quality of life is protected with a strong emphasis on limb and tissue preservation. Our services ensure each patient receives personal and individualized attention from eminent specialists in sarcoma. When making treatment plans for children, we coordinate care with a pediatric oncologist.
The following treatment options may be considered for treating skeletal muscle sarcoma.
Since skeletal muscle sarcoma develops less frequently in adults, it becomes difficult to treat with traditional treatment. In that case, clinical trials can be helpful with the individualized approach based on your conditions.
At our office in Santa Monica, we design personalized and innovative plans for treating skeletal muscle sarcoma.
To schedule a consultation, please call us at 310-552-9999 or request an appointment online.
