A case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the cheek in adolescence. Its cytological diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration via the gingival fornix

Abstract The authors present a case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the cheek in a young patient. The histological diagnosis, on the tumoral mass, was preceded by cytological researches with fine needle aspiration biopsy, carried out on the gingival fornix. The cytology, by immunocytochemical techniques, made possible the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. Therefore the authors stress the high capacity of these cytochemical and immunocytochemical methods to demonstrate, not in a invasive way, the small round cell tumors of the skull and the neck in the youngs. This early diagnosis may orient the clinical and therapeutic management of the case.