Recurrent metastatic retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma: a case report and literature review

Recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma with multiple surgeries: a case report

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLPS) is a rare malignant tumor that is typically treated with surgical resection. However, RPLPS often has a high rate of local recurrence, making it crucial to explore new treatment options. In this report, we present the case of a middle-aged woman who experienced seven recurrences and underwent seven surgeries following the initial resection. Currently, the patient's condition remains stable after the eighth surgery. Although there have been numerous reports of RPLPS cases both domestically and internationally, instances of repeated recurrence like this are exceptionally rare. Therefore, we have gathered the patient's case data and conducted a retrospective analysis, incorporating relevant literature, to enhance the understanding of this disease among clinical practitioners.

Recurrence of locally invasive retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma shortly after surgery: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma (RPDDL) is an uncommon malignancy, which often remains undetected for many years due to having adequate space in the retroperitoneal cavity and lacking clinical manifestations in the early stage of the disease. Surgical procedure is usually used as the first choice for treatment. However, it is prone to local recurrence after the operation, resulting in an unfavorable prognosis. Our aim is to draw useful lessons from the new case and provide some experience for management of the disease.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We describe a 55-year-old male patient who was admitted for a 3-week history of persistent dull ache of the left waist. A large mass of the left upper abdomen was palpated in physical examination. Moreover, the imaging examination revealed that the diameter of the mass was about 21 cm, and some adjacent vital organs were invaded, which brought great challenges to complete surgical resection.

DIAGNOSIS

The postoperative pathological results confirmed that the mass was RPDDL with invasion of the surrounding vital structures including pancreas, spleen, left adrenal gland, left kidney, and vasculature with tumor emboli.

INTERVENTIONS

Surgical resection of the mass was performed by our multidisciplinary team. The patient received chemotherapy 1 month after surgery.

OUTCOMES

The effect of chemotherapy seemed to be unsatisfactory. Local multifocal recurrence of the tumor was considered about 2 months after surgery. Finally, he gave up any treatments and died of the disease.

LESSONS

Regular physical examination and ultrasound screening may detect the disease as early as possible, especially for high-risk group aged 60 to 70, which should be popularized. Incomplete resection, vascular invasion, and interruption of postoperative treatment may lead to an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, we think that patients with the disease may benefit from complete surgical resection and uninterrupted adjuvant therapy.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma: unveiling diagnostic delays and multimodal treatment dilemmas

Liposarcomas are a prevalent subtype of soft tissue sarcomas, constituting less than 1% of all malignancies. Originating in the adipose tissue, they can manifest in various locations and are categorized by the World Health Organization into several subtypes: well-differentiated liposarcomas, dedifferentiated liposarcomas, myxoid liposarcomas, pleomorphic liposarcomas and mixed-type liposarcomas. These tumors typically affect middle-aged and older individuals, and their incidence has been progressively increasing over the years. As liposarcomas advance they tend to encase blood vessels and major organs, particularly in the retroperitoneal area. Often asymptomatic initially, symptoms arise as the tumor reaches a considerable size, exerting pressure on adjacent tissues and organs. This report features a 54-year-old patient incidentally diagnosed with a substantial retroperitoneal tumor extending to the antero-lateral abdominal wall and inner thigh via the right inguinal ligament. The patient, with a previous three-year history of a right inguinal mass, sought acute care for a perianal abscess The histological examination revealed morphological aspects consistent with a low-grade myxoid liposarcoma. While surgery remains the primary treatment for retroperitoneal liposarcomas, controversies exist regarding the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in improving survival rates. This case highlights the challenges in managing retroperitoneal tumors and underscores the importance of a personalized, multidisciplinary approach to optimize patient outcomes.

Giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the gastrocolic ligament: A case report

BACKGROUND

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS) has a worse prognosis and occurs most commonly in the retroperitoneal region and rarely in the intraperitoneal region. Histological diagnosis was revolutionized by the combined contributions of histo-immuno-chemistry and molecular biology. Aside from surgery, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment for this chemoresistant cancer.

CASE SUMMARY

A thirty-year-old black female presented with a large painful abdominal mass occupying nearly the entire abdomen and progressive weight loss was admitted for surgery. Abdominal computed tomography showed a large heterogeneous mass of the mesentery that was sized 18 cm × 16 cm in size and had heterogeneous contrast enhancement. During laparotomy, en bloc excision of the large and multilobulated gastrocolic ligament mass was performed. The initial postoperative histopathological diagnosis was undifferentiated sarcoma. Finally, the results of immunohistochemistry and molecular biology allowed us to confirm the diagnosis of DDLS. The tumour followed an aggressive evolution with diffuse metastasis, causing the death of the patient less than 5 mo after the operation.

CONCLUSION

Dedifferentiated liposarcomas are rare tumours that typically originate in the retroperitoneum but may arise in unexpected locations.