Diagnosis

Rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis usually begins with a physical exam to better understand the symptoms you or your child may be experiencing. Based on those findings other tests and procedures may be recommended.

Imaging tests

Your doctor may recommend one or more imaging tests to investigate symptoms, look for cancer and look for signs that the cancer has spread.

Imaging tests may include:

• X-ray
• Computerized tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Bone scan

Removing a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy)

A biopsy procedure is used to collect a sample of suspicious cells for laboratory testing. Tests can show whether the cells are cancerous and determine the type of cancer.

Types of biopsy procedures used to diagnose rhabdomyosarcoma include:

• Needle biopsy. The doctor inserts a thin needle through the skin and guides it into the tumor. The needle is used to remove small pieces of tissue from the tumor.
• Surgical biopsy. The doctor makes an incision through the skin and removes either the entire tumor (excisional biopsy) or a portion of the tumor (incisional biopsy).

Determining the type of biopsy needed and the specifics of how it should be performed requires careful planning by the medical team. Doctors need to perform the biopsy in a way that won't interfere with future surgery to remove the cancer. For this reason, ask your doctor before the biopsy for a referral to a team of experts with extensive experience in treating rhabdomyosarcoma.