Essay On Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma

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Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma, also referred to as RMS, is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, according to MedScape.com. The survival rates have been increasing over the last 5 years, however, patients with localized sarcoma have raised the rates higher than 80%, but patients with metastatic sarcoma have raised them less than 30%. RMS is usually embodied as an “expanding mass” and may be palpable easily and early in the onset of disease, however that depends on the superficiality of the tumor and if it is located more subcutaneously, the tumor would be harder to find. Symptoms depend on where the tumor is located and pain may or may not be present. Locations and presentations of localized disease include: orbit - proptosis or dysconjugate gaze, paratesticular - painless scrotal mass, prostate - bladder or bowel difficulties, uterus, cervix, bladder - menorrhagia or metrorrhagia, vagina - protruding polypoid mass (botryoid, or a grape-like cluster), extremities - painless mass, parameningeal - upper respiratory symptoms or pain. …show more content…

To diagnose RMS, patients must go through lab studies, genetic studies, imaging studies, and biopsy. Lab studies include complete blood count (CBC) to detect anemia or pancytopenia, liver function tests (LFTs) including LDH, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels which all detect proper function of the liver, renal function tests (RFTs) including BUN and creatinine levels, urinalysis to detect hematuria, and blood electrolyte and chemistry. Genetic studies include fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcriptase when FISH is unavailable or ineffective. Imaging studies include plain radiology, CT scanning, MRI, bone scanning, ultrasonography, and

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