Malignant rhabdoid tumours of the jejunum, chest wall and adrenal glands

Primary rhabdoid cancer of the ileum: a case report and review of the literature

Since the first publication of a rhabdoid cancer, described as an infrequent variant of Wilms' tumor, several cases of extrarenal rhabdoid tumor have been reported in the literature. Here, we report on a primary rhabdoid cancer of the small intestine, and give a review of the data available in the literature. An 81-year-old male patient was admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine with subileus and bloody stools. While gastroscopy and colonoscopy failed to identify a neoplastic disease, abdominal US and CT raised the suspicion of a malignancy involving the descending colon. Ileus-mandated laparotomy disclosed an obstructive tumor of the ileum. This segment was resected, followed by several relapses, and the patient died after a 7-month-period of non-relenting deterioration. Histological work-up of the numerous biopsies disclosed a cellular, solid, necrotic, hemorrhagic, and invasive tumor. The cancer cells were round-to-polygonal, and scattered bizarre pleomorphic cells with prominent nucleoli were common. The overall appearance of the neoplasm was highly similar in every specimen. The immunohistochemical phenotype of the malignant cells indicated rhabdoid characteristics. A thorough search of the literature revealed additional 22 cases of primary rhabdoid GI cancers. This report aims to call the pathologist's attention to the differential diagnostic importance of this entity.

Extra-renal non-cerebral rhabdoid tumours

BACKGROUND

Rhabdoid tumours (RTs) are aggressive malignancies of childhood, mainly occurring in the kidney and brain. We describe a national multi-centre retrospective analysis of extra-renal non-cranial RTs (ERRTs).

PROCEDURE

Diagnosis relied on central histological review and/or on hSNF5/INI1 defect, evidenced by immunohistochemistry or molecular screening. Clinical data were obtained from physicians.

RESULTS

Twenty six patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median age at diagnosis was 28 months [0-366], including late childhood and young adults cases. Surgery, either initial or secondary, was complete in three. All but three patients received chemotherapy, with variable regimens. Additional radiotherapy was used in six patients. Median time to recurrence or progression was 5 months [0-44], and one patient remained free of disease at 7 years.

CONCLUSIONS

ERRTs share the same chemosensitivity, early recurrence, and poor prognosis as renal and cerebral RTs. No chemotherapy regimen demonstrates a superior response.