A Case Report of Liposarcoma on the Neck in an Adult

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Although liposarcoma is the second most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults, the incidence of liposarcoma of the head and neck is rare. There is only one reported case in Korea and moreover, only in adolescence. We report a case of liposarcoma on the neck in a 32-year-old male in adult. METHODS: The patient had a slow growing, none tender mass on the posterior neck without lymphadenopathy, which has been present for 3 years and recurred twice during that time. MRI showed a 1.5cm sized ovoid, well demarcated mass that was located in the subcutaneous layer of the posterior neck. RESULTS: The mass was surgically removed. The resection margin was free of tumor on frozen biopsy and histopathologic examination indicated myxoid and round cell liposarcoma. The whole body F-18 FDG PET-CT applied on the fourteenth day postoperatively, revealed a moderate FDG-uptaking soft tissue lesion showing postoperative wound healing process on the posterior neck region and there was no distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: Liposarcoma is the second most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults. But, it rarely involves the head and neck region. Prognosis is principally dependent on histologic subtype and grade. Low grade liposarcoma such as well differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma tend to recur locally, rarely metastasize. On the other hand, high grade liposarcoma such as round cell and pleomorphic liposarcoma have higher rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Complete surgical excision provides the most effective means of treatment. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy can be used as an asjunctive treatment modality.