Liposarcoma

Liposarcoma

Overview

Liposarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the fat cells. It most often begins as a growth of cells in the belly or in the arm and leg muscles. But liposarcoma can begin in the fat cells anywhere in the body.

Liposarcoma happens most often in older adults, but it can happen at any age.

Liposarcoma treatment usually involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments, such as radiation therapy, also may be used.

Liposarcoma is a type of cancer called a soft tissue sarcoma. These cancers happen in the body's connective tissues. There are many types of soft tissue sarcoma.

Liposarcoma Symptoms

When they first form, liposarcomas often don’t cause any symptoms and frequently go unnoticed. They may eventually grow large enough to push other tissue aside and cause symptoms. The liposarcoma symptoms you may experience depend on the size of the tumor and where it forms:

Abdominal symptoms: You may experience constipation, feeling full sooner than usual when eating, nausea, pain, swelling, unintended weight loss, or vomiting.

Arm or leg symptoms: You will most commonly notice a growing lump but generally no pain or physical limitations.

Esophageal symptoms: You may experience trouble swallowing or unintended weight loss.

Causes

The exact causes of liposarcoma aren’t currently known. Some factors, however, may increase your risk of developing one:

Chemical exposure: Some evidence suggests that exposure to workplace chemicals such as vinyl chloride can cause a liposarcoma to eventually form.

Family genetics: Genetic changes inherited from parents can cause syndromes that increase the risk for a range of health conditions, including sarcomas and other cancers. Both hereditary retinoblastoma—a cause of eye cancer—and Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) have ties to liposarcoma.

Lipomas: Most benign lipomas don’t turn cancerous. In 2 percent of cases, a specific kind of tumor called an atypical lipoma may become a liposarcoma.

Previous radiation therapy: Receiving radiation therapy can cause a liposarcoma to form years later.

Types of Liposarcoma

We categorize liposarcoma based on where tumors form and how aggressively they act.

Liposarcoma types include:

Well-differentiated liposarcoma: The most common liposarcoma, these tumors feature clearly defined cells that look a lot like normal cells. These cancers rarely spread but do often return after surgical treatment. They’re found in the retroperitoneum (back half of the belly) and the esophagus. In the arms and legs, a similar but benign tumor called an atypical lipoma can develop. In 2 percent of cases, these lipomas can turn into liposarcoma.

Myxoid liposarcoma: Among liposarcomas, these tumors are also relatively common, especially in adults ages 35 to 55. Myxoid liposarcoma is found most often in the thighs. It can also form in the chest wall, pelvis, arms, and other parts of the legs.

Round cell liposarcoma: Named after the shape of its cells, round cell liposarcoma is the more aggressive version of myxoid liposarcoma and occurs in the same locations. It can spread to other areas of the body, including the lungs, abdomen, and spine.

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma: This less common form of liposarcoma is found in the belly, arms, and legs. Its cells appear dedifferentiated, meaning that they are in a less mature form. Dedifferentiated liposarcoma can act more aggressively at times. For example, it returns more often after treatment when found in the belly. Still, dedifferentiated liposarcoma spreads to other areas of the body less commonly than other aggressive liposarcomas.

Pleomorphic liposarcoma: The rarest liposarcoma, these tumors have cells that take on a range of shapes and sizes. Found mainly in the arms and legs, these sarcomas are particularly aggressive, with the ability to spread to distant locations, particularly the lungs.

Diagnosis

Providers begin a diagnosis by doing a physical examination and asking about symptoms. Tests they may use include:

Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scans help providers locate tumors, including how close they are to major organs, and to evaluate tumor size.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI scans help providers check on nearby nerves, blood vessels and muscles that may be affected by a liposarcoma.

Biopsy: Providers take tumor tissue samples so medical pathologists can examine tumor cells under a microscope.

Molecular and genetic testing: These tests determine the liposarcoma type.

Treatment

Liposarcoma treatment depends on the liposarcoma type, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, where it has spread. You may have a combination of more than one type of treatment for the disease. Treatments may include:

Surgery: A surgeon removes the tumor and surrounding healthy tissue, including microscopic tumor cells.

Radiation therapy: You may have radiation therapy to shrink the tumor before surgery, particularly if you have myxoid liposarcomas. You may also have this treatment after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

Chemotherapy: Healthcare providers may use chemotherapy to treat tumors that surgery can’t remove

Treatment side effects:

Side effects include recovering from surgery, as well as side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

complications

Healthcare providers typically treat liposarcoma with surgery to remove the tumor and nearby healthy tissue. Any type of surgery may have complications. Your surgeon will discuss your specific situation, but some common surgery complications may include:

Reaction to general anesthesia.

Blood loss.

Surgical wounds that don’t heal.

Infection.

Damage to organs or tissues affected by the tumor.

Pain that isn’t managed by pain medication.

Type of Doctor Department : An oncologist