Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and a unique factor VIII antigen.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) has been described in association with many tumors. We describe a patient with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in whom DIC developed with the initiation of chemotherapy. The patient achieved complete remission of his tumor for 14 months. An unusual factor VIII antigen was identified on crossed immunoelectrophoresis that was present at initial diagnosis, disappeared with remission, and returned with relapse of the tumor.