Abstract
Liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma accounting for 20% of all mesenchymal malignancies.We report a rare histological variant arising from the dorsum of the foot. A 55 year old lady presented with a slow growing, well defined swelling on the dorsum of the foot. Histological examination following complete excision showed a tumor with zones of dense collagenous tissue containing pleomorphic spindle cells and scattered atypical adipocytes. A diagnosis of spindle cell sarcoma was made and referred to the local Sarcoma unit. Repeat excision and histology confirmed margins free of tumor. Four years after primary excision, patient is well with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.
Spindle cell liposarcoma is a rare variant of well differentiated liposarcoma characterized by prominent spindle cell component. Previously reported cases originated in the subcutaneous tissues of shoulder girdle and upper limb. Main differential diagnoses include benign lesions such as spindle cell lipoma, and diffuse neurofibroma as well as dermatofibrosarcoma pro-tuberans and other malignancies such as sclerosing liposarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and fibromyxoid sarcoma. Spindle cell Liposarcomas tend to recur locally and may dedifferentiate with a potential for metastasis. Wide excision and long term follow up looking for recurrence and metastasis is necesssary in these rare variants of liposarcoma especially those arising at atypical sites as in our case.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Roger Tillman. Correspondence should be addressed to BOOS at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN
