January 1, 1999Open Access
View Full PaperPatterns of recurrence in extremity liposarcoma
Key Result
Myxoid liposarcomas metastasized to extrapulmonary sites significantly more frequently than pleomorphic tumors (30.4% vs 16.7%; P<0.05).
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=122)
Multicenter
No
Structured PICO
Do patterns of recurrence differ between histologic subtypes of extremity liposarcoma?
P
Population
122 patients with intermediate or high grade extremity liposarcoma (102 myxoid, 18 pleomorphic, 2 mixed) referred to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1992.
C
Comparator
Pleomorphic subtype (for comparison of recurrence patterns with myxoid subtype)
O
Outcome
Patterns of recurrence (extrapulmonary vs. lung only) and survival rates (overall, local recurrence free, distant recurrence free, disease free)hard clinical
Myxoid liposarcomas metastasize significantly more frequently to extrapulmonary soft tissue sites compared to pleomorphic tumors, which primarily metastasize to the lungs, necessitating different staging and follow-up imaging strategies.
Main Result
Absolute Event Rate: 30.4% vs 16.7%
p-value: p=< 0.05
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Liposarcoma is one of the most common histologic types of soft tissue sarcoma and presents a wide spectrum of clinical behavior. The authors examined the correlation among histologic subtypes, outcomes, and patterns of recurrence among patients with extremity liposarcomas. METHODS. A retrospective review of all patients with intermediate and high grade extremity liposarcoma referred to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1992, was performed. Data on clinical presentation, treatment, patterns of treatment failure, and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: During the 13-year study period, 122 patients with intermediate or high grade extremity liposarcoma were identified: 102 patients (84%) with myxoid subtype, 18 patients (15%) with pleomorphic subtype, and 2 patients (2%) with mixed histology. There were no differences between the myxoid and pleomorphic subtype groups in tumor size (T1 vs. T2), depth in relation to the muscular fascia, or anatomic site. The median follow-up was 70 months. The 5-year overall survival rate for all intermediate and high grade extremity liposarcoma patients presenting with primary disease (n=85) was 74%; the 5-year local recurrence free survival, distant recurrence free survival, and disease free survival rates were 93%, 78%, and 73%, respectively. Among the 102 patients with myxoid tumors, 33 had distant recurrences; 31 of these were to extrapulmonary soft tissue sites (e.g., the retroperitoneum, chest wall, pleura, pericardium, pelvic sidewall, and soft tissue of the back), and 2 were to the lung only. Among the 18 patients with pleomorphic tumors, 10 had distant recurrences; 3 occurred at extrapulmonary sites, and 7 occurred in the lung only (P < 0.05 for myxoid vs. pleomorphic subtypes). CONCLUSIONS: Myxoid liposarcomas often metastasized to extrapulmonary sites and did so significantly more frequently than pleomorphic tumors. Imaging of the abdomen, retroperitoneum, and extrapleural chest should be performed for accurate staging and posttreatment follow-up of patients with myxoid liposarcoma. Patients presenting with "primary" myxoid liposarcoma of the trunk should be carefully evaluated for an occult primary tumor in an extremity.