Adult rhabdomyoma of the oropharynx recurring three times within thirty-five years.

A case of recurrent rhabdomyoma in the oropharynx of a 72-year-old man is presented. Diagnosis was based on routine histology, and in the third and last recurrence it was further established by electron microscopy, immune peroxidase staining for myoglobin, actin and fibronectin, and special strains. All recurrences were histologically identical and metastases were never observed. The adult rhabdomyoma is almost exclusively located in the head/neck region, often adjacent to vital organs, complicating radical surgery. The present case indicates that recurrences can be expected often at extraordinarily long intervals.