1992 Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 101-107
Two cases of malignant mesenchymoma in children are reported in this paper. Case 1. A 10 month-old boy was admitted to our hospital with a painless tumor in the perineal region. The tumor was located in the corpus spongiosum and could not be excised completely. Microscopically, the tumor which contained mainly rhabdomyosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma, was diagnosed as a malignant mesenchymoma. Beginning the 4th day after operation, VAC chemotherapy with irradiation was performed for 2 years. There was no evidence of recurrence 5 years after operation. Case 2. A 4 year-old girl complained of a painful tumor in the lower abdomen. Computed tomography revealed a massive, irregular low-density area in the pelvie cavity. On the day after admission, an emergency operation was performed because of signs of peritonitis. There was bloody mucinous fluid in the peritoneal cavity and a large hard tumor in the presacral region. We could not excise the tumor. The microscopic findings were those of a rhabdomyosarcoma. On the 3rd day after operation, chemothrapy according to the IRS-2 protocol (pulse VAC) was started. The Tumor was remarkably smaller and after 4 weeks, we could no longer palpate the tumor. After 15 weeks, a second-look operation was performed. The tumor was located in the retroperitoneal space. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of three different components-rhabdomyosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and undifferentiated sarcoma. Malignant mesenchymoma is a very rare malignant tumor in children and its management is very difficult.Good results were obtained in our two cases using VAC chemothrapy.
