Localization
Rhabdomyosarcomas form particularly frequently in the head and neck region, the urogenital tract (draining urinary tract) and the extremities. In principle, rhabdomyosarcomas can be located in all parts of the body. Metastases form especially in the lungs and bones, in the brain and in the pelvic organs.
Symptomatically, rhabdomyosarcomas manifest themselves in different ways. The form of the symptoms depends on the location and extent of the sarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcomas very often cause abdominal pain, hematuria (= blood in the urine), dysuria (= pain when urinating), constipation and in female patients vaginal bleeding, in male patients however testicular swelling.
In the area of the extremities, rhabdomyosarcomas cause painful but also painless swelling. Under certain circumstances, functional limitations can also be part of the symptom picture of rhabdomyosarcoma. As mentioned above, localization is a decisive factor for the type and severity of the symptoms. In stage 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, for example, the eyeball may protrude or shift, nasal breathing may be impaired, the jaw may swell, or hearing disorders may occur.
Diagnosis
If a rhabdomyosarcoma is suspected, for example due to the symptoms, imaging techniques are usually used for diagnostic determination. These include, for example, X-ray examinations, but also magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or scintigraphy. A biopsy (= fine tissue examination) can be considered for diagnostic confirmation and for more detailed planning of therapeutic measures.
Prognosis
The prognostic chances of a long-term cure depend on the stage of the disease. The higher the stage, the worse the prognosis. While in stage I the chances of recovery are around 80%, in stage IV the average is only 20%. The prognosis is therefore particularly dependent on the localization, size and possible formation of metastases.The average five-year survival rate is about 60%.
