Liposarcoma

Liposarcoma
Histopathology of liposarcoma, H&E stain:[1]
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SpecialtyDermatology, general surgery oncology
SymptomsLump under skin, pain, swelling, organ dysfunction

Liposarcomas are the most common subtype of soft tissue sarcomas, accounting for at least 20% of all sarcomas in adults.[2] Soft tissue sarcomas are rare neoplasms with over 150 different histological subtypes or forms. Liposarcomas arise from the precursor lipoblasts of the adipocytes (i.e. fat cells) in adipose (i.e. fat) tissues. Adipose tissues are distributed throughout the body, including such sites as the deep and more superficial layers of subcutaneous tissues as well as in less surgically accessible sites like the retroperitoneum (i.e. space behind the abdominal cavity) and visceral fat inside the abdominal cavity.[3]

All liposarcomas consist of at least some cells that bear a resemblance to fat cells when examined for their histopathologic appearances under a microscope.[4] However, the liposarcomas do have several forms based on differences in their clinical presentations (e.g. ages, gender preferences, sites of tumors, signs, and symptoms), severities (i.e. potential to invade local tissues, recur after surgical removal, and metastasize to distal tissues), genetic abnormalities, prognoses, and preferred treatment regimens. The World Health Organization in 2020 reclassified liposarcomas into five more or less distinct forms: 1) atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (WD-LPS); 2) dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DD-LPS); 3) myxoid liposarcoma; 4) pleomorphic liposarcoma; and 5) myxoid pleomorphic liposarcoma.[5] (Pleomorphic indicates the presence of cells that have abnormal and often large variations in their size and shape and/or the size and shape of their nuclei.)

While liposarcoma forms are classified as being aggressive and malignant or, in the case of the atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma, as relatively non-aggressive and benign,[6] all five liposarcoma forms can infiltrate locally to injure nearby tissues and organs, occur in surgically inaccessible sites adjacent to vital organs (e.g. the retroperitoneum[7]), recur after surgical removal, and progress to life-threatening diseases. Studies to date find that all five liposarcoma forms, while usually treatable at least initially by surgical resection, are often only marginally responsive to currently used chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens. The liposarcomas require a wide range of further studies to determine their responsiveness to various radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and more novel treatment regimens as used individually and in various combinations that would include, where possible, surgical removal.[6]

  1. ^ Potterveld S, Clay MR. "Liposarcoma". PathologyOutlines. Topic Completed: November 2017. Minor changes: May 2023
  2. ^ Nie L, Chen X, Gong J, Zhang M, Xu M, Chen N, et al. (December 2020). "Synchronous Renal Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma and Retroperitoneal Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma: A Case Report With Literature Review". International Journal of Surgical Pathology. 29 (6): 667–671. doi:10.1177/1066896920981682. PMID 33355009. S2CID 229688954.
  3. ^ Dei Tos AP (August 2000). "Liposarcoma: new entities and evolving concepts". Annals of Diagnostic Pathology. 4 (4): 252–266. doi:10.1053/adpa.2000.8133. PMID 10982304.
  4. ^ Bell T (October 2012). "What is Liposarcoma?". The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative. Retrieved 2015-04-22.
  5. ^ Porrino J, Al-Dasuqi K, Irshaid L, Wang A, Kani K, Haims A, et al. (June 2021). "Update of pediatric soft tissue tumors with review of conventional MRI appearance-part 1: tumor-like lesions, adipocytic tumors, fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors, and perivascular tumors". Skeletal Radiology. 51 (3): 477–504. doi:10.1007/s00256-021-03836-2. PMID 34191084. S2CID 235678096.
  6. ^ a b Haddox CL, Riedel RF (2021). "Recent advances in the understanding and management of liposarcoma". Faculty Reviews. 10: 1. doi:10.12703/r/10-1. PMC 7894267. PMID 33659920.
  7. ^ Nishio J (2011). "Contributions of cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetics to the diagnosis of adipocytic tumors". Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology. 2011: 524067. doi:10.1155/2011/524067. PMC 3025394. PMID 21274402.