A case of retroperitoneal liposarcoma after delivery with expression of estrogen receptor: Report of a case

Introduction: Liposarcoma is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas; however, early diagnosis is rare as the tumor remains difficult and unpalpable for a prolonged period of time.

Presentation of case: Here we report the first case of retroperitoneal liposarcoma associated with pregnancy and expression of estrogen receptor. A 34-year-old woman experienced persistent abdominal distension after her first delivery. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large (40cm×35cm), solid, palpable abdominal mass with fat attenuation displacing the ascending colon and the right kidney to the left. Laparotomy and an en-bloc resection of the tumor were performed; further, right nephrectomy and adrenalectomy were required. Histopathology showed a well-differentiated liposarcoma; approximately 10-20% of the tumor cells were ER-positive.

Discussion: Retroperitoneal liposarcoma associated with pregnancy is an extremely rare occurrence. Surgical resection is unquestionably the first choice of treatment, but complete resection is sometimes impossible due to the volume and depth of invasion of the tumor. In such cases, additional therapy for liposarcoma is important to improve prognosis. Thus, this report highlights the need for further research into hormone therapy.

Conclusion: Retroperitoneal liposarcoma has a high local recurrence rate due to the difficulty in complete surgical resection; therefore, additional hormone therapy is important for improving the prognosis.