A case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the descending colon

Abstract

A 54-year-old man referred to our hospital for abdominal distension. He had no medical history. On physical examination, he complained lower abdominal distention, and had no spontaneous pain or tenderness. The blood tests showed that CEA and CA19-9 levels were within normal limits. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with irregularities and mucosal defects in the descending colon. Computed tomography (CT) showed a 3-cm-diameter mass in the descending colon and ascites. Due to the presence of ascites, laparoscopic examination was performed, which revealed multiple peritoneal seeding of the tumor. Given the presence of peritoneal dissemination, the tumor was determined to be unresectable, and a histological examination was performed from the disseminated nodule. Pathologically, atypical spindle cells were observed and infiltrated into adipose tissue. Additional immunohistochemistry revealed positive expression for Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) and Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and fluorescence in situ hybridization showed amplification of MDM2. Thus, the tumor was diagnosed with a dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the descending colon. Liposarcoma is a type of soft-tissue sarcoma that arises from soft tissues such as the extremities or retroperitoneum. Here, we report an extremely rare case of a dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the colon.

Keywords: Colon; Dedifferentiated liposarcoma; Liposarcoma.