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Liposarcoma

Etiology: • Unknown

Pathogenesis: • Unknown

Epidemiology: • Tumor of adult life, with a peak incidence between 40 and 60 years of age. • Approximately 55 to 60% of tumors occur in men. • Retroperitoneal tumors occur somewhat more frequently in women. • There is no evidence that any race or geographical area is more prone to develop liposarcomas.

General Gross Description: • The three most common locations are the thigh, the retroperitoneum, and inguinal region. • Grossly, the lesion are characterized by large (5 to 10 centimeters) lesions that are well-circumscribed. • Liposarcomas typically manifest a lobulated appearance. • Cut section may reveal mucinous appearance, especially if the myxoid component is prominent. • Typically, at least some evidence of yellow color, due to the lipid material, may be present.

General Microscopic Description: • Histologically, the most common type is the myxoid type. • The tumor has three components: proliferating lipoblasts, a delicate capillary network, and a myxoid matrix containing abundant ground substance. • The typical feature of a liposarcoma is the presence of lipoblasts, usually appearing as cells with a foamy or signet ring appearance. • Some of these cells may,with an increase in lipid accumulation, resemble adult fat cells. • A branching capillary network is one of the typical features of the myxoid liposarcoma. • The myxoid component also contains typically stellate myxomatous cells. • Some liposarcomas are poorly differentiated with small round cells resembling a malignant lymphoma. • However, typical lipoblasts and myxoid cells are often seen.

Clinical Correlations: • Usually manifest as a slow growing,deep seated, poorly defined mass. • Rare instances may be associated with pain or tenderness early in the disease. • The tumor is usually large by the time the patient seeks medical attention. • Five year survival rates vary from 60 to 70%.

References: •Robbins "Pathologic Basis of Disease". (Cotran, Kumar and Robbins, Eds.) 5th Edition. pp 1262.