Anterior Abdominal Wall Rhabdomyoma Mimicking Uterine Fibroid in Pregnancy: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Background: Rhabdomyoma is a rare benign tumour of striated muscle, most
commonly encountered in the heart, head, or neck. Its occurrence in the anterior
abdominal wall is extremely uncommon, particularly during pregnancy. Such
tumours can closely mimic more prevalent pathologies, such as uterine fibroids,
posing significant diagnostic and management challenges.
Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 30-year-old primigravida who
presented at term with a progressively enlarging, painless abdominal mass, initially
suspected to be a uterine fibroid. Ultrasonography revealed a well-circumscribed
anterior abdominal wall mass, but further imaging was limited by advanced
pregnancy. The patient underwent surgical excision under spinal anaesthesia, and a 9
× 6 cm encapsulated tumour was removed from the right rectus abdominis muscle.
Histopathological examination confirmed adult-type rhabdomyoma. The
postoperative course was uneventful, with normal wound healing, and both maternal
and foetal outcomes were favourable at follow-up.
Conclusion: Anterior abdominal wall rhabdomyoma is an exceptionally rare entity
in pregnancy and may clinically mimic more common tumours such as uterine
fibroids. Awareness of this differential diagnosis, combined with thorough
intraoperative and histopathological assessment, is vital for accurate diagnosis and
effective management.