Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma with acute otitis media as presenting feature

Rhabdomyosarcoma is one of the most common neoplasms in pediatrics. However, despite being commonly found on the head and neck, its location in the temporal region is rare. We report a case of a 6-year-old male admitted to the emergency department with a history of recurring right otalgia, with progressive clinical worsening despite seriated antibiotics and corticotherapy. Image characterization with both computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were suggestive of a space occupying lesion, confirmed with an exploratory tympanomastoidectomy that revealed an obliterative polypoid lesion. The samples examination confirmed a rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient underwent combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, initially with improvement, but clinical relapse followed by a rapid decline to death nine months after his first symptoms. This case highlights the importance of a strong clinical suspicion in children presenting with a persistence of common symptoms in pediatrics.