Diagnosis strategy of adipocytic soft-tissue tumors in adults: a consensus from European experts

Abstract

Fat-containing tumors are very commonly found in daily practice with benign lipoma accounting for the majority of superficial tumors. Overlap in imaging findings between benign and intermediate or malignant fat-containing tumor is common. Guidelines recommend a core needle biopsy (CNB) for all deep tumors, and superficial tumors over 3 cm. However, specific strategy for diagnosis and referral to a sarcoma center should be applied on adipocytic tumors. The aim of this consensus statement is to provide a specific algorithm for adipocytic tumors, to discriminate patients who do require a CNB for preoperative diagnosis from those who can simply undergo active surveillance or a simple excision.

Keywords: Adipocytic tumors; Angiomyolipoma; Biopsy; Fatty tumors; Imaging; Lipoma; Liposarcoma; Myelolipoma.