User:Sue Adams Stewart/Retroperitoneum Liposarcoma

User.Sue Adams Stewart/Retroperitoneum Liposarcom

Liposarcoma is a malignant tumor[1] that arises in fat cells in deep soft tissue, such as that inside the thigh or in the retroperitoneum.

They are typically large bulky tumors which tend to have multiple smaller satellites extending beyond the main confines of the tumor.

Liposarcomas, like all sarcomas, are rare and may be best treated at sarcoma centers.[2] Contents [hide]

* 1 Symptoms * 2 Incidence and prevalence * 3 Prognosis * 4 See also * 5 References * 6 External links

[edit] Symptoms

Patients usually note a deep seated mass in their soft tissue. Only when the tumor is very large do symptoms of pain or functional disturbances occur.

Retroperitoneal tumors may present themselves with signs of weight loss and emaciation and abdominal pain. These tumors may also compress the kidney or ureter leading to kidney failure. [edit] Incidence and prevalence

Most frequent in middle-aged and older adults (age 40 and above), liposarcomas are the second most common of all soft-tissue sarcomas following malignant fibrous histiocytomas. Annually 2.5 cases occur per million population. [edit] Prognosis

The prognosis varies depending on the site of origin, the type of cancer cell, the tumor size, the depth, and proximity to lymph nodes. Well-differentiated liposarcomas treated with surgery and radiation have a low recurrence rate (about 10%) and rarely metastasize.[3] Five year survival rates vary from 100% to 39% based on histological subtype.[3]