Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma?
A pediatric oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating children with cancer, oversees care for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. The team can include a pediatric surgeon, a surgeon for children, and a radiation oncologist, a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma?
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of rhabdomyosarcoma. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancer that forms in muscle tissue. It is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children.
The embryonal type usually affects children in their first 5 years of life, but it can occur at older ages. It tends to start in the head and neck, the bladder, the vagina, or near the prostate and testes. It can also start anywhere in the body.
Symptoms
The signs depend on where the cancer forms. Check with your child's doctor if your child has any of these:
- A lump or swelling that keeps getting bigger or does not go away, which may be painful.
- Crossed eyes or bulging of the eye.
- Trouble urinating or having bowel movements.
- Blood in the urine.
- Bleeding in the nose, throat, vagina, or rectum (the end of the bowel).
A tumor around the eye can also cause vision problems, swelling around the eye, or pain. A tumor in the bladder or vagina can cause trouble starting to urinate or poor control of urine.
Causes and who gets it
In most cases, the cause of rhabdomyosarcoma is not known. A high birth weight may raise the risk of the embryonal type.
Some inherited diseases also raise the risk of rhabdomyosarcoma. They include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Dicer1 syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Costello syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and Noonan syndrome. Having a risk factor does not mean a child will get cancer.
How doctors diagnose it
Doctors start with a physical exam and a health history. They may then use imaging tests, which take pictures of the inside of the body. These can include an x-ray, a CT scan, an MRI, a PET scan, and a bone scan.
If the tests suggest rhabdomyosarcoma, a biopsy is done. A biopsy removes cells or tissue so a pathologist, a doctor who studies tissue, can look at them under a microscope. Treatment depends on the type. So a pathologist with experience in this cancer should check the sample.
Early diagnosis matters. This cancer spreads quickly.
Treatment
A team of children's cancer experts plans treatment. A pediatric oncologist leads it. Three types of standard treatment are used: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The order of treatments depends on where the tumor started, its size, and its type.
Chemotherapy uses drugs that reach the whole body. Every child treated for this cancer should receive it. This lowers the chance that the cancer will come back. In most children, surgery cannot remove all of the tumor. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other radiation to kill cancer cells.
Doctors also sort the cancer into low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups. The risk group is based on the stage and on whether the cancer has spread and whether surgery removed all of it. Embryonal tumors can be in any of the three groups.
Some children take part in clinical trials, which are research studies of new treatments. Treatment can also cause late effects. These are problems that start after treatment and last for months or years. They can affect the teeth, eyes, digestion, and fertility, which is the ability to have children.
When to see a doctor
Check with your child's doctor if your child has a lump or swelling that keeps getting bigger or does not go away, or any other sign listed above. Contact your child's provider if your child has symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child has trouble or abnormal breathing, bleeding that will not stop, a seizure, a bluish or grey skin color, or a big change in alertness or behavior.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can check a new lump or other concern, order first tests, and help coordinate care with your child's cancer team after a diagnosis.
Common questions
Is embryonal the most common type of rhabdomyosarcoma?
Yes, embryonal is the most common type of rhabdomyosarcoma. It usually affects children in their first 5 years of life.
How is embryonal different from alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma?
The alveolar type tends to grow faster than the embryonal type. It usually needs more intense treatment. It most often occurs in large muscles of the trunk, arms, and legs.
Can embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma be cured?
That depends on the type of tumor, where it is, and how far it has spread. With intensive treatment, most children with rhabdomyosarcoma are able to survive long term.
What causes embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma?
In most cases, the cause is not known. A high birth weight may raise the risk of the embryonal type, and some inherited diseases raise the risk of rhabdomyosarcoma.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute - Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment (PDQ)
- MedlinePlus - Rhabdomyosarcoma
- American Cancer Society - Rhabdomyosarcoma
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
