Primary alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the diaphragm requiring proximal gastrectomy

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the diaphragm, especially alveolar RMS, is extremely rare. Because of its rarity, no treatment for it has yet been established, but previous studies have reported long-term survival in recipients of a combination therapy with local control, including a total resection and/or radiation therapy concomitant with multiagent chemotherapy. We experienced a case of primary alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma of the diaphragm surrounding the gastric cardia in a 15-year-old, female patient. After administering chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, actinomycin D, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) to shrink the tumor, tumor resection was performed with a proximal gastrectomy and partial resection of the diaphragm, pericardium, and left lung. After receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with VAC and radiotherapy at a total of 41.4 Gy, the patient has been relapse-free for 18 months. The tumor-induced stenosis at the hilum was corrected, allowing oral intake and markedly improving the patient's nutritional status. Tumor resection with a proximal gastrectomy for primary diaphragmatic RMS surrounding the lower esophagus is recommended both for its efficacy in local control and for allowing the preservation of postoperative gastrointestinal function.