Liposarcoma | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of liposarcoma?
Because soft tissue sarcomas affect tissue that is elastic and easily moved, a tumor may exist for a long time before being discovered, growing large and pushing aside surrounding tissue. Liposarcoma symptoms vary greatly with the size, location and spread of the tumor, but may include:
- Painless swelling or mass anywhere on the body
- Pain or soreness caused by compressed nerves or muscles
- Limping or other difficulty using the legs, feet, arms or hands
- Diminished range of motion in the affected area
Liposarcoma | Diagnosis & Treatments
How is liposarcoma diagnosed?
In addition to a physical examination, a doctor may order the following to diagnose a liposarcoma:
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computerized tomography scan (also called a CT or CAT scan)
- Biopsy or tissue sample
- Bone scan
- Complete blood count (CBC)
After all tests are completed, doctors will be able to outline the best treatment options.
How is liposarcoma treated?
The treatment often depends on how far the disease has spread and how aggressive it is. Standard treatment is surgery to remove the entire tumor along with surrounding healthy tissue to ensure that no cancer cells remain. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used only if surgery alone is ineffective.
Local recurrence of the disease following surgical resection is common and may be avoided with adjuvant radiation therapy. The risk of recurrence increases with high-grade tumors.
What is the long-term outlook for children with liposarcoma?
Survival rates for liposarcoma vary widely depending on the subtype. Myxoid tumors have a five-year survival rate of 80 percent, while aggressive pleomorphic tumors can have a five-year survival rate closer to 20 percent.
Children treated for liposarcoma should visit a cancer survivorship clinic every year in order to:
- Manage disease complications
- Screen for early recurrence of cancer
- Manage late effects of treatment
A typical follow-up visit may include some or all of the following:
- A physical exam
- Laboratory testing
- Imaging scans
Through our David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic, childhood cancer survivors receive a comprehensive follow-up evaluation from their cancer care team.
How we care for liposarcoma
Children with liposarcoma are treated at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center through our Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Program. Our integrated pediatric oncology program offers the combined expertise of a leading cancer center and a world-renown children’s hospital.
