Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma to the pancreas with fluorescence in situ hybridization: A case report

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is a rare tumor in adults. Cytologic diagnosis of metastatic ARMS to the pancreas diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) has been reported rarely in the literature. A 20‐year‐old male with a history of ARMS in the right maxillary sinus resected one year earlier and pancreatitis treated two months earlier, presented on routine follow‐up. Abdominal positron electron tomography‐CT scan revealed a mass in the pancreas and fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the left paraaortic lymph node. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen showed a 3.6 × 6.4 cm mass in the tail of the pancreas. EUS‐FNA was performed using a 22‐gauge needle. Cytologic criteria and immunohistochemistry in the smears were analyzed. A diagnosis consistent with metastatic ARMS was rendered. Subsequent FISH analysis of the case and histologic review of the primary tumor supported the final diagnosis. A diagnosis of metastatic ARMS to the pancreas can be made by EUS‐FNA. FISH can be used as an ancillary technique in diagnosing the tumor. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.