Liposarcoma natural history

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2]

Natural History

• The natural history of liposarcoma would depend on the histopathological subtype and location.
• Liposarcomas may remain asymptomatic for a long time, specially if they are located in the retroperitoneum.
• The common presentation for a liposarcoma located in the soft tissue of the skin is a painless growing mass without other symptoms.
• The lower extremities are the most common location of liposarcomas.
• Between 10 and 15% of patients may present with pain in the affected region.
• Retroperitoneal liposarcomas may present as a dull abdominal pain, weight loss and increase abdominal girth.

Complications

• Liposarcoma may cause metastasis to other organs and the lung is the most common location for metastatic disease.

Prognosis

The prognosis of liposarcoma will depend on the histopathological subtype. Atypical lipomatous neoplasm/well-differentiated liposarcoma has a low metastasis risk, but may recur locally. The pleomorphic liposarcoma has a high metastasis potential and a high recurrence.