Primary pleomorphic liposarcoma of breast: a rare case report

Sarcoma of the breast constitutes less than 1% of all malignant breast tumors and liposarcoma of the breast has an incidence of 0.3% of all the mammary sarcomas. A 47-year-old woman presented with a mass in the right breast and mammography was suggestive of a malignant lesion. Modified radical mastectomy was performed. The tumor was diagnosed histologically as a pleomorphic liposarcoma. The patient was discharged and her postoperative recovery was uneventful.     

Paratesticular liposarcoma with smooth muscle differentiation mimicking angiomyolipoma

AIMS: To discuss the differential diagnosis of a case of well-differentiated liposarcoma which had areas resembling angiomyolipoma-a feature which, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously. METHODS AND RESULTS: A tumour in the paratesticular region had apparently been present for 40 years, but had grown recently. A fat component containing lipoblasts was admixed with areas resembling angiomyolipoma, i.e. desmin positive, but HMB45-negative smooth muscle proliferation with atypia and thick-walled blood vessels devoid of elastin. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of liposarcoma, rather than angiomyolipoma with adipose atypia, in this case is based on the fact that smooth muscle differentiation is documented in liposarcoma, lack of HMB45 staining and recent clonality studies which suggest that the fat in angiomyolipoma is not neoplastic.     

Myxoid liposarcoma of the breast in a 25-year-old female as a diagnostic pitfall in fine needle aspiration cytology: report of a rare case

Primary sarcomas of the breast are extremely rare comprising less than 1.0% of all malignant tumors of the breast. It is even rarer to be reported in a 25-year-old female. This can cause a diagnostic dilemma not only for the clinician but also for the cytopathologist. A 25-year-old woman presented with a well defined firm, mobile lump in her right breast. With fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and ultrasonography a diagnosis of fibroadenoma was made. The patient underwent lumpectomy. Histopathologically it was diagnosed as myxoid liposarcoma. This case is reported to highlight the fact that, even though rare in young females but the possibility of a breast lump being a myxoid liposarcoma does exist. This report discusses a primary myxoid liposarcoma of female breast, considers cytologic differential diagnoses with review of the relevant literature.     

Liposarcoma of the breast: a clinicopathologic study of 20 cases

The clinical and pathologic features of 13 patients with pure liposarcomas of the breast and seven patients with liposarcomas that had arisen in cystosarcomas are reviewed. Metastases occurred in three of the 13 patients with pure mammary liposarcomas, and two women died of tumor. One of the patients with a liposarcoma that had arisen in a cystosarcoma had a local recurrence one year after diagnosis but was subsequently lost to follow-up study. Fourteen of the 20 patients for whom follow-up information was available for as long as 14 years had no evidence of recurrence. Features associated with the development of recurrence, based on the cases studied here and previous reports, included the pleomorphic liposarcoma pattern and an infiltrative margin. Features associated with tumor-free survival included the well-differentiated liposarcoma pattern, male gender (two patients), and a circumscribed microscopic tumor margin. There were no axillary lymph node metastases. Follow-up data indicate that complete surgical excision of tumor with tumor-free margins is necessary, but total mastectomy and removal of the axillary tail are not required unless these procedures are needed for complete excision.     

Focal rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation in primary liposarcoma.

A unique case of primary myxoid liposarcoma of the thigh, in which focal pleomorphic areas were present containing rhabdomyoblasts, is described. Focal rhabdomyosarcoma in liposarcoma has only rarely been reported previously and only in dedifferentiated liposarcomas of the retroperitoneum. All but one have been recurrences with rhabdomyoblasts being absent in the primary liposarcoma. As rhabdomyoblasts were only focally present, the present case is regarded as liposarcoma with focal divergent rhabdomyoblastic differentiation rather than malignant mesenchymoma.     

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses of liposarcoma and its soft tissue simulators: recognition of new variants and differential diagnosis

Liposarcoma is one of the most common sarcomas of adults. Its differential diagnosis and accurate subclassification are often problematic; the latter is also important with regard to appropriate treatment and prognosis. We studied a series of 23 liposarcomas that had unusual or previously undescribed features and 10 liposarcoma simulators and correlated the morphologic, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic findings. We found that use of cytogenetic-molecular genetic techniques aids in the distinction between myxoid-round cell liposarcoma and their simulators, chondroid lipoma, myxoid spindle cell-pleomorphic lipoma, cellular intramuscular myxoma, and myxofibrosarcoma. Poorly differentiated forms of round cell liposarcoma lacking morphologic evidence of lipogenesis can also be diagnosed using these techniques; however, the techniques do not aid in distinguishing low-grade myxoid from high-grade round cell liposarcomas. This study also shows that retroperitoneal liposarcomas with myxoid liposarcoma-like zones are part of the morphologic spectrum of well-differentiated-dedifferentiated liposarcoma rather than true myxoid liposarcomas. Perhaps most importantly, our results provide the first molecular genetic evidence that true mixed liposarcomas (mixed well-differentiated and myxoid liposarcoma) do indeed exist. They also unequivocally demonstrate the existence of small, round cell variants of pleomorphic liposarcoma that closely simulate myxoid-round cell liposarcoma.     

Myofibroblastoma of the breast with hemangiopericytoma-like pattern and pleomorphic lipoma-like areas. Report of a case with diagnostic and histogenetic considerations.

Myofibroblastoma (MFB) of the breast is an uncommon benign spindle cell tumor which may exhibit a wide spectrum of histological features. We report an unusual case of MFB of the male breast, showing cellular areas with a hemangiopericytoma-like pattern similar to that observed in solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and extensive fibromyxoid areas containing numerous atypical stromal cells. The association of these atypical cells with mature adipocytes and microcystic and/or myxoid degenerative changes resembled pleomorphic lipoma-like and myxoid liposarcoma-like features, respectively. To our knowledge, these peculiar morphological findings have not been previously reported in MFB of the breast. They should be recognized to avoid confusion with other mesenchymal tumors, especially with hemangiopericytoma, pleomorphic lipoma (PL), spindle-cell lipoma (SCL) and myxoid liposarcoma. A case of MFB of the breast showing morphological features also commonly seen in SFT and PL/SCL is further morphological evidence in support of the speculation that the mesenchymal tumors of the breast, also known under the terms benign spindle cell tumors, fibromas, SFTs, SCLs and MFBs, are histogenetically related lesions.     

Rhabdomyomatous well-differentiated liposarcoma arising in giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus

We report an example of an esophageal giant fibrovascular polyp harboring a well-differentiated liposarcoma with rhabdomyomatous differentiation in a 68 year-old man. Initial imaging studies including fiberoptic endoscopy and 2 computed tomographic examinations, and laparoscopic myotomy failed to demonstrate the polypoid intraluminal nature of the lesion. Thus, alternative diagnoses including a malignant neoplasm and achalasia were entertained. A third computed tomography with contrast showed a pedunculated mass. Surgical resection revealed a 15-cm smooth-surfaced club-shaped mass composed of a well-differentiated liposarcoma demonstrating myoglobin, muscle-specific actin, and myogenin-positive rhabdomyomatous differentiation. To date, no previously reported giant fibrovascular polyp case has described a liposarcoma with rhabdomyomatous change.     

Myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma: cyto-histological correlations

Myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma: cito-histological correlations. A correlative cytologic and histologic study of a myxoid liposarcoma of the shoulder in a 72 year-old man and a pleomorphic liposarcoma observed in the retroperitoneum of a 84 year-old woman, are presented. A preoperative FNAB cytology performed in both cases showed necrotic material containing spindle-stellate shaped cells, interspersed in a myxoid matrix, with rare classical monovacuolated lipoblasts and fragments of plessiform vessels were seen in the first and scattered pleomorphic and multinucleated cells, with prominent nucleoli and numerous atypical mitosis in the second. A malignant mesenchimal spindle-cells tumor, with myxoid matrix and pleomorphic cells, consistent with liposarcoma, respectively were suspected. Gross and histological specimens confirmed the cytological suspect. Authors discuss main cyto-histological differential diagnoses of myxoid tumors, and point out the importance and a correct differentiation between myxoid liposarcoma and intramuscular myxoma. The cytologic appearance of pleomorphic liposarcoma is similar to histologic type and therefore the problem of a differential diagnosis with soft tissue tumors is analogous. When mono or plurivacuolated lipoblasts are absent, differential diagnosis between pleomorphic histiocytoma and liposarcoma is impossible. Nevertheless this is not a important problem at cytological level because both tumors have a had prognosis and must be treated with radical surgery. Definition of correct histologic type will be more suitable on histologic specimens.     

An unusual presentation of myxoid liposarcoma: a case report

A 50 year old female had a myxoid liposarcoma of left thigh that was widely excised. After three years, she presented with a soft tissue mass in right hypochondriac region, which was diagnosed as myxoid liposarcoma on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and was confirmed histologically.     

Well differentiated inflammatory subcutaneous liposarcoma (inflammatory atypical lipomatous tumor)

Well differential inflammatory liposarcoma is a rare type of low grade liposarcoma. Its microscopical features may simulate benign inflammatory pseudotumor. A case of this lesion was described occurring in the subcutis of the right supraclavicular region in 61-year-old woman. The tumor was round well circumscribed and measured 3 cm in diameter. Histologically, it contained a 1.5 cm inflammatory nodule, which was surrounded by otherwise typical lipoma-like liposarcoma. The inflammatory nodule was composed of lymphocytic aggregates and spindle to stellate cells with mild atypism. No lipoblasts were seen in this area which mimicked an inflammatory pseudotumor. Correct diagnosis was based on the recognition of the lipoma-like liposarcoma area in this lesion. Our patient had no recurrence six years after the tumor excision.     

The expanded histologic spectrum of myxoid liposarcoma with an emphasis on newly described patterns: implications for diagnosis on small biopsy specimens

The variety of histologic patterns in myxoid liposarcoma is underappreciated. The diversity of these patterns can lead to diagnostic difficulty. We examined the morphologic spectrum of myxoid liposarcoma by cataloguing and describing different patterns identified in biopsy and resection specimens of 46 primary, recurrent, and metastatic myxoid liposarcomas. The patterns identified in the 46 cases included traditional myxoid (43 [93%]), traditional round cell (17 [37%]), pseudoacinar (24 [52%]), lipoblast-rich (13 [28%]), island (11 [24%]), lipomatous (10 [22%]), stromal hyalinization (7 [15%]), cord-like (5 [11%]), nested (3 [7%]), chondroid metaplasia (2 [4%]), and hemangiopericytoma (HPC)-like (1 [2%]). Island and nested patterns had not previously been described. The diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization studies for DDIT3 (also known as CHOP) rearrangement. The morphologic spectrum of myxoid liposarcoma spans well beyond its typical appearance of spindle cells in a myxoid stroma with a prominent vascular pattern. Awareness of the variety of histologic patterns is critical to avoid misdiagnosis, especially in small biopsy specimens.     

Myxoid liposarcoma of the breast--report of a rare case

Breast sarcomas are very rare. A 40 year old lady presented with a well-defined hard lump, 6 cm in size, in the left breast. Patient underwent simple mastectomy with axillary clearance following a diagnosis of phylloides tumour on fine needle aspiration cytology. Grossly, it was a circumscribed myxoid tumour. Histopathologically, it fulfilled all the criteria for a diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma. The absence of epithelial component excluded phylloides tumour.     

Liposarcoma of the pleural cavity: clinical and pathologic features of 4 cases with a review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Primary liposarcomas of the pleura are extremely rare malignancies, and relatively few reports appear in the world literature. DESIGN: We compiled a small series of 4 cases of primary pleural liposarcoma from the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (Washington, DC) and compared the histopathologic and clinical features of these 4 cases with those of 9 previously published cases. RESULTS: Our investigation included the case studies of 9 men and 4 women, aged 19 to 80 years (average, 49 years). Histologic subtypes in the 9 cases with available information included 5 myxoid liposarcomas, 1 well-differentiated liposarcoma, and 3 liposarcomas with mixtures of histologic types. Surgical resection with or without chemotherapy appeared to be the most common form of treatment, although radiation therapy was used in some cases and seemed beneficial. Survival information was available for 11 cases; 4 patients died of disease at 7, 9, 12, and 19 months; 1 died of heart failure 2 days after presentation; 1 died of unknown causes 16 months after presentation; and 3 patients were alive without tumor at 5, 16, and 66 months after diagnosis. One patient had local recurrence at 2 years. A second surgical resection in this patient failed, and he died of disease 9 years after initial presentation. A second patient experienced recurrence at 4 years and was free of disease 4 years after the second surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: Primary pleural liposarcomas occur predominantly in older men, and the myxoid histologic subtype is the most common. Radiographic or surgical evaluation is important to distinguish primary pleural liposarcoma from chest wall or mediastinal sarcomas, as well as metastases from other sites. Although further investigation is needed, evidence from the cases reviewed here indicates that surgical resection with adjuvant radiation therapy may benefit patients with primary pleural liposarcoma.     

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings in dedifferentiated liposarcoma with neural-like whorling pattern and metaplastic bone formation

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma, a subtype of liposarcoma, is characterized by juxtaposition of well-differentiated liposarcoma with a nonadipocytic sarcoma. A peculiar form of dedifferentiated liposarcoma has been described, characterized by a nonlipogenic component with a neural-like whorling pattern of growth and metaplastic bone formation. We report the cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings of this peculiar form of dedifferentiation in a retroperitoneal tumor found in a 58-year-old woman. The neoplasm had the typical histologic findings and a complex karyotype characterized by several numeric and structural chromosome abnormalities, including the presence of ring and giant rod chromosomes. Molecular genetic studies found high levels of amplification of the MDM2 oncogene, consistent with the amplification of the 12q14 chromosome band, a cytogenetic abnormality commonly found in these tumors. These findings indicate that, despite its unique and peculiar morphologic features, this unusual type of dedifferentiated liposarcoma shares many of the cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities found in other forms of dedifferentiation. However, the specific cytogenetic and molecular determinants of these peculiar morphologic findings remain unknown.     

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the pyriform sinus: report of a case and review of the literature

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal liposarcomas are extraordinarily infrequent tumors. To the best of our knowledge there are fewer than 40 well-documented cases reported to date. Almost all of them are well-differentiated liposarcomas, with only 2 laryngeal-hypopharyngeal dedifferentiated liposarcomas. Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is defined as a well-differentiated liposarcoma with areas of high-grade spindle cell nonlipogenic sarcoma. The well-differentiated areas may be of a lipoma-like, sclerosing, or mixed type, and the dedifferentiated areas most frequently are of malignant fibrous hystiocytoma-like type. Despite its commonly pleomorphic histology, dedifferentiated liposarcoma does not behave as aggressively as most pleomorphic sarcomas of adulthood; however, it has the capacity to metastasize, in contrast to its well-differentiated counterpart. We present a case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma arising in the pyriform sinus, an event only twice reported previously in the literature.     

Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic findings in dedifferentiated liposarcoma with neural-like whorling pattern and metaplastic bone formation

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is a subtype of liposarcoma characterized by juxtaposition of well-differentiated liposarcoma with a nonadipocytic sarcoma. A peculiar form of dedifferentiated liposarcoma has been described, characterized by a nonlipogenic component with a neural-like whorling pattern of growth and metaplastic bone formation. We report the cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings of this peculiar form of dedifferentiation in a retroperitoneal tumor found in a 58-year-old female. The neoplasm had typical histologic findings and a complex karyotype characterized by several numeric and structural chromosomal abnormalities, including the presence of ring and giant rod chromosomes. Molecular cytogenetic studies found high levels of amplification of the MDM2 oncogene, consistent with the amplification of the 12q14 chromosome band, a cytogenetic abnormality commonly found in these tumors. These findings indicate that, despite its unique and peculiar morphologic features, this unusual type of dedifferentiated liposarcoma shares many of the cytogenetic features and molecular genetic abnormalities found in other forms of dedifferentiation. The specific cytogenetics and molecular determinants of these peculiar morphologic findings, however, remain unknown.     

Pleomorphic liposarcoma: A cytologic study of five cases

Pleomorphic liposarcoma represents one of the rarest variants of liposarcoma. It has a poor prognosis and unlike other variants of liposarcoma, lacks a molecular or genetic signature. Histologic studies of pleomorphic liposarcoma have defined this lesion as a high grade sarcoma, which contains a variable number of lipoblasts. We describe the cytologic features of five cases of pleomorphic liposarcoma, all of which had histologic confirmation. We consistently identified numerous lipoblasts as well as micro and macrovesicular fat vacuoles in the background of cellular, pleomorphic sarcomatoid neoplasms. The appearance of the aspirates differs substantially form other variants of liposarcoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:138–143. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Clonal chromosome abnormalities in two liposarcomas

Two liposarcomas were analyzed with chromosome banding technique. The sole chromosomal abnormality in one of the tumors, a mixed type (myxoid and round cell) liposarcoma, was t(12;16)(q13;p11), a rearrangement previously reported to be associated with myxoid liposarcoma. The other tumor, a pleomorphic liposarcoma, displayed massive numerical rearrangements (modal chromosome number 94-112), and numerous, mostly unidentifiable, marker chromosomes. The following clonal structural aberrations were recognized: del(1)(p22), del(1)(q23), t(7;?)(p22;?), i(17q), and t(19;?)(q13;?).     

Paratesticular liposarcoma: coexistence with urinary bladder cancer

A 58-year-old man with liposarcoma originating from the right paratesticular area was reported. Histologically, liposarcoma showed a well-differentiated sclerosing type. Coexistence of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and liposarcoma was also revealed. The cases of paratesticular liposarcoma in the literature are briefly reviewed.