Publication:

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of hard palate: a case report and review of literature

Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common malignant soft tissue tumors in children and adolescents. Around 40% of cases are diagnosed in head and neck region with orbit and face being the commonly involved areas. Oral lesions account for less than 10%. We report a case of embryonal RMS in a 4-year-old boy who presented with a polypoid mass in the hard palate. Though majority of the oral lesions encountered in children are benign, a small but significant percentage may be representative of an aggressive malignant tumor. Differentiating benign and malignant oral lesions is mandatory for optimal diagnostic strategies.