Unusual spread of liposarcoma.

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to investigate the unusual pattern of metastatic spread of liposarcoma.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We retrospectively studied thirty-two patients with liposarcoma (in seventeen located in the retroperitoneum and in fifteen in the extremities) who were managed at our institution over a ten-year period. Six patients with extremity liposarcoma developed local recurrence and or distal metastases and in three the site of the distal spread was other than the lungs. In only one patient with retroperitoneal liposarcoma we observed extra-pulmonary spread. The histologic type of all four cases with unusual spread was myxoid, with small areas of round cell differentiation in two cases.

RESULTS

The survival of the patients after the initial recurrence was relatively prolonged (6, 1.5, 8 and 3 years with the last patient alive and well).

CONCLUSION

Physicians should maintain a low threshold for initiating evaluation of relatively minor symptoms in patients with liposarcoma, as these symptoms may reflect the first manifestation of an extrapulmonary metastasis. Such an approach should result in earlier detection and hopefully improve survival for patients with liposarcoma.