Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma: a rare case report from Syria

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Introduction:</jats:title> <jats:p>Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare aggressive tumor manifesting in children and young adults. This tumor derives from mesenchymal elements of the Tunica vaginalis, epididymis, and spermatic cord. It is a very metastatic lesion that can spread by lymphatics to the iliac, para-aortic nodes, lung, and bone.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Case presentation:</jats:title> <jats:p>In this paper, the authors report a case of a 6-year-old child who presented to the clinic with a painless mass in the right side of the scrotum. The mass was misdiagnosed and had evolved rapidly over 2 weeks. The mass measured 16×32 mm on ultrasound, and therefore, an orchiectomy was performed. The histological examination of the excised tissue confirmed the diagnosis of paratesticular RMS.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Discussion:</jats:title> <jats:p>Paratesticular RMS mainly presented as a painless mass in the scrotum. It was a very metastatic lesion that required an immediate management. However, a lot of cases of paratesticular RMS misdiagnosed at first time, which worsens the overall prognosis.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title> <jats:p>Eventually, paratesticular RMS should be always taken into consideration when a scrotal mass is suspected. Due to its extremely serious metastatic potential, this condition requires early diagnosis and management. The treatment is currently well codified combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.</jats:p> </jats:sec>