Liposarcoma in patients younger than or equal to 22 years of age.

BACKGROUND: There have been few reported series of liposarcomas in patients younger than or equal to 22 years of age.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients presenting with liposarcoma between 1949-1990 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with age at diagnosis younger than or equal to 22 years was performed. Variables evaluated for their predictive effect on survival included anatomic location of the primary, size, and completeness of surgical resection.

RESULTS: Eighteen patients were identified. Only 1 patient (6%) presented with a high-grade lesion, and in 13 patients (72%), the myxoid subtype was observed. All but one patient undergoing complete resection remain disease-free 1.3-29.1 years after treatment, while all patients with gross residual tumor have died from disease. Two of three patients with microscopic residual at resection are disease-free 2 and 11.8 years after diagnosis with the addition of external beam radiation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that complete surgical resection is crucial for survival in young patients with liposarcoma and the external beam radiation therapy may be effective against microscopic residual.