Intraperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma: a case report

Abstract

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is a variant of liposarcoma with a more aggressive course. Mutations of the p53 gene have been found in different types of soft tissue sarcoma. It is generally accepted that p53 mutations in human malignant tumors are often related to a poor prognosis. In our case, analysis of p53 gene mutation in tumor samples was performed. p53 gene mutation was observed in dedifferentiated tumor tissue samples but not in well-differentiated tumor tissue samples. It has been reported that p53 gene mutation occurs most commonly in the retroperitoneum and rarely in other anatomic locations. Herein we report a case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma located at intraperitoneum.

Figure 1

T1-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) demonstrating a high-intensity mass.

Figure 2

Well-differentiated tumor shows numerous lipoblasts and the dedifferentiated tumor resembles pleomorphic, spindle cells with hyperchromatic nuclei (HE, × 100) in the area revealing an abrupt transition from the well-differentiated to the dedifferentiated tumor (A), and dedifferentiated tumor shows low cellularity, fusiform cells with small hyperchromatic nuclei, and abundant collogen in the low grade fibrosarcoma area (B) (HE, × 100).

Figure 3

Amplification of the BstU1 within exon 4 produces a 66 bp long segment while cleavage results in 37 bp and 29 bp long fragments. Lane 1: No mutation of p53 gene in well-differentiated tumor; lane 2: Mutation of p53 gene in dedifferentiated tumor; lane 3: DNA marker.