Rhabdomyoma is a benign tumor of striated muscle origin that is very rare in young children. Review of the world literature revealed 20 cases of extracardiac adult-type rhabdomyoma in the head and neck area. All reported cases have been encapsulated and easily excised.
A 22½-month-old girl with a parapharyngeal rhabdomyoma is unique in that her tumor had atypical histology and lacked a capsule; it could not be "shelled-out."