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Description
Rhabdomyosarcomas are soft tissue sarcomas which originate frequently in the striated muscles (form of fibers that are combined into parallel fibers) of the body like the cardiac and the skeletal. The cells from which they develop are called myoblasts. Rhabdomyosarcomas occur mostly in the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, gingiva (gums), greater omentum, tongue, urethra, myocardium, and the urinary bladder. So, on the basis of their location, rhabdomyosarcomas have been classified into embryonal, botryoid, alveolar and pleomorphic. Although carcinomatosis (wide spread to distant organs) is uncommon here, they may spread to organs like the spleen, lungs, liver, kidneys and the adrenal glands. Rhabdomyosarcomas are mostly found in young animals. Although rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of tumor originating from the skeletal muscles, it accounts for less than 1% of all reported malignancies in dogs.
Classification of rhabdomyosarcomas:
Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of rhabdomyosarcoma reported in dogs. In this type of tumor, the older breeds are said to be slightly predisposed. No sex predilection has been reported so far. However, there was a case where a Basset Hound as young as 1.5 years was affected with involvement of the temporal muscle (one of the muscles of mastication or chewing). In another case a 4-month old dog was affected with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the trachea. But the average age of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is 8.2 years. They are usually found in the larynx or the myocardium (muscles that surround and power the heart).
Laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma is fairly common. The victims are normally young animals. However, older animals can also be affected. There is no breed predilection. These neoplasms occur as masses that protrude into the lumen of the larynx. They are locally infiltrative. Necrosis, hemorrhage and hemosiderosis (iron overload disorder) are common features.
But on the other hand cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma is extremely rare. The clinical signs may include cardiac dysfunction, syncope (loss of consciousness), dyspnea, lethargy, stridor (high pitched sound resulting from turbulent air flow in the upper airway) and dysphonia (medical term for disorders of the voice).
They manifest themselves as white or tan fleshy masses. In some cases they were seen at the apex of the heart with the cystic masses originating in the right ventricle, extending into the right ventricle and finally into the aorta (largest blood vessel in the body).
Botryoid Rhabdomyosarcoma
It is most commonly found in the urinary bladder of a dog. However, this tumor is quite rare. Young and large breed dogs are over represented in this type of a tumor like the Saint Bernard. The average age group for this type of tumor is 1.7 years.
Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma is mostly located near the trigone (smooth triangular region of the urinary bladder), but in some of the cases the tumors were found on the wall of the urinary bladder not associated with the trigone.
The term ‘botryoid’ (having many rounded protuberances like that of grapes) has its origin in the polypoid (resembling a polyp) mass that extends into the lumen (cavity or channel within a tubular structure). In certain cases the tumor projects into the body of the bladder and fills the urethra (tube which connects the urinary bladder to the outside body). In some cases the mucosal surface is ulcerated. Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma presents itself as white or tan lesions. Hemorrhage and necrosis are common features of the lesions. In dogs suffering from botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma, hypertrophic osteopathy is a common problem (bone disease secondary to disease in the lungs).
The clinical signs may include obstruction of urinary outflow, dysuria (difficulty in urination), hematuria (blood in the urine) and stranguria (difficulty with urination).
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
It mostly occurs in the maxilofacial (affecting the jaws and the face) or abdominal region especially the omentum (different components of the peritoneum) in dogs. They usually manifest themselves as white, yellow gray, red-brown or fish flesh in color. Necrosis and hemorrhage are common features.
Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma
This is a very common tumor affecting animals. There is so limited information available on this type of cancer that we very often draw comparisons from human oncology. These tumors manifest themselves as pale, white, tan or fleshy masses. Reports suggest they frequently metastasize to distant organs of
the body.
Diagnostic techniques
Physical examination consists of a complete blood count, urinalysis and biochemical profile. Other examinations include palpation, CT examination, thoracic radiography, fine needle aspiration with cytology, immunohistochemical analysis, biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan to determine the rate of metastasis.
Treatment
Surgical extirpation is the treatment of choice for rhabdomyosarcoma depending upon the location of the tumor and the rate of metastasis. Radiation is also used to treat primary tumor. But for distant metastasis, chemotherapy is used, the standard protocol for which consists of medicines like vincristine, cyclophosphamide
and doxorubicin.
Prognosis
In case of metastasis, the prognosis is usually guarded. But dogs treated for rhabdomyosarcoma normally have a long-term survival rate.
References
Tumors in Domestic Animals – Donald J. Meuten, DVM, PhD, is a professor of pathology in the Department of Microbiology, Pathology, and Parasitology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Cancer in Cats and Dogs: Medical and Surgical Management – Morrison Wallace B
