Hepatic Rhabdomyomatous Tumor: Late Sequel of a Fetal Rhabdomyomatous Nephroblastoma

Abstract

A mesenchymal tumor with the macroscopic and microscopic features of a fetal rhabdomyoma arose in the liver of a 14-year-old boy. Thirteen years previously this boy had been treated for a fetal rhabdomyomatous nephroblastoma with nephrectomy and—for subsequent peritoneal disseminations—with surgical excision, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The unusual hepatic location of the rhabdomyomatous tumor in this patient supports the view that this mature tumor developed from a metastasis of the original nephroblastoma. As such, this case may represent an example of irreversible change of a malignant process into a benign tumor probably caused by the action of systemic chemotherapy.

Key Words:

• fetal rhabdomyomatous nephroblastoma
• hepatic metastasis
• fetal rhabdomyoma
• chemotherapy