Hematologic masquerade of rhabdomyosarcoma

We present the case of a 12‐year‐old boy admitted with the diagnosis of acute leukemia, but found to have an infiltration of the marrow by an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) as determined by the cytogenetic demonstration of a t(2;13)(q25;q14). A primary tumor could not be found. With this case as a basis, we have tabulated features of all similar cases in the literature and discuss the possible optimal approaches to establishing the correct diagnosis in such patients. Am. J. Hematol. 68:51–57, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.