Malignant Extra-Renal Rhabdoid Tumor : Introduction
Image Description
Malignant extrarenal rhabdoid tumor (MERT), rhabdoid tumor of kidney, and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor of the central nervous system are a group of related high-grade tumors that share histologic features and possess identical molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. The site distribution is as follows: kidney 20%, extrarenal (non-CNS) 45%, and CNS 35% (Source: SEER database).
Rhabdoid morphology may also be seen in a variety of carcinomas, sarcomas and melanoma. The term MERT is used for tumors with a predominant rhabdoid appearance in which no other line of differentiation can be identified. This image is from an extrarenal rhabdoid tumor involving soft tissues of the neck in a 12 y/o female. It is composed of solid sheets of tumor cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The tumor cells can be seen infiltrating skeletal muscle on the top right.
Rhabdoid morphology may also be seen in a variety of carcinomas, sarcomas and melanoma. The term MERT is used for tumors with a predominant rhabdoid appearance in which no other line of differentiation can be identified. This image is from an extrarenal rhabdoid tumor involving soft tissues of the neck in a 12 y/o female. It is composed of solid sheets of tumor cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The tumor cells can be seen infiltrating skeletal muscle on the top right.