Surgery Today

, Volume 26, Issue 3, pp 203–207 | Cite as

Thymus-related liposarcoma: Report of a case and review of the literature

  • Yasuo Sekine
  • Kinichi Hamaguchi
  • Yukio Miyahara
  • Masayuki Baba
  • Kazuhiro Yasufuku
  • Takehiko Fujisawa
  • Yutaka Yamaguchi
Case Reports
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

We report herein the case of a 77-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of an abnormal shadow in the right upper mediastinum that had been revealed by a routine chest X-ray. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans confirmed the presence of a thymic tumor, but did not show any evidence of invasion into the central vessels or adjacent structures. Thus, an extended thymectomy with resection of the tumor was performed. Microscopically, normal thymic tissue was found among the tumor cells, and a pathological diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma was established. From the operative and microscopic findings, it is apparent that the tumor was related to the thymus. Postoperative irradiation of 60 Gy was delivered to the operative site and the patient has remained free of disease for 29 months since the operation.

Key Words

liposarcoma mediastinum thymus 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Russell WO, Cohen J, Enzinger F, Hajdu SI, Heise H, Martin RG, Meissner W, Miller WT, Schmitz RL, Suit HD (1977) A clinical and pathological staging system for soft tissue sarcomas. Cancer 40:1562–1570Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    Schweitzer DL, Aguam AS (1977) Primary liposarcoma of the mediastinum. Report of a case and review of the literature. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 74:83–97Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Enzinger FM, Lattes R, Torloni H (1969) Histological typing of soft tissue tumors. International histological classification of tumors, no 3, World Health Organization, GenevaGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Wada H, Teramatsu T (1982) Mediastinal tumors — a statistical nationwide report of 1546 cases between July 1975 and May 1979 in Japan (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Kyoubu Geka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Assn Thorac Surg) 30:374–378Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Wychulis AR, Payne WS, Clagett OT, Woolner LB (1971) Surgical treatment of mediastinal tumors. A 40-year experience. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 62:379–392Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (1988) Soft tissue tumors. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 346–382Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Razzuk MA, Urschel HC, Race GJ, Kingsley WB, Paulson DL (1971) Liposarcoma of the mediastinum. Case report and review of the literature. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 61:819–826Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Kindblom LG, Save SJ (1979) The ultrastructure of liposarcoma. A study of 10 cases. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand [Sect A] 87:109–121Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Napolitano L (1963) The differentiation of white adipose cells. An electron microscope study. J Cell Biol 18:663–679Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Lagace R, Jacob S, Seemeyer TA (1979) Myxoid liposarcoma. An electron microscopic study: Biological and histogenetic considerations. Virchows Arch [A] 384:159–172Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Shibata K, Koga Y, Onitsuka T, Wake N, Ishii K, Sekiya R, Sumiyoshi A (1986) Primary liposarcoma of the mediastinum. A case report and review of the literature. Jpn J Surg 16:277–283Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Okumori M, Mabuchi M, Nakagawa M (1983) Malignant thymoma associated with liposarcoma of the mediastinum — a case report. Jpn J Surg 13:512–518Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Havlicek F, Rosai J (1984) A sarcoma of thymic stroma with features of liposarcoma. Am J Clin Pathol 82:217–224Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Kagawa K, Masuda A, Tanaka K, Tatsumi A, Nonoyama A, Kagawa T (1986) Multicentric occurrence of liposarcoma. Report of a case and review of the literature (in Japanese with English abstract) Nippon Kyoubu Geka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Assn Thorac Surg) 34:897–902Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Wells HG (1940) Adipose tissue, a neglected subject. JAMA 114:2177–2183Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Ackerman LV (1944) Multiple primary liposarcomas. Am J Pathol 20:789–798Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Ito J, Mitsuhashi N, Okazaki A, Ikeda H, Kato M, Niibe H (1980) Radiation therapy of liposarcoma. A study of 11 cases (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Igaku Hoshasen Gakkai Zasshi (Nippon Acta Radiol) 40:445–452Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Friedman M, Egan JW (1960) Irradiation of liposarcoma. Acta Radiol Suppl (Stockh) 54:225–239Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Castleberry RP, Kelly DR, Wilson ER, Cain WS, Salter MR (1984) Childhood liposarcoma. Report of a case and review of the literature. Cancer 54:579–584Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Tanaka M, Hizawa K, Tonai M (1974) Liposarcoma. A clinicopathological study on 136 cases based on the histological subtyping of WHO. Jpn J Cancer Clin 20:1036–1047Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    Enzinger FM, Winslow DJ (1962) Liposarcoma: a study of 103 cases. Virchows Arch [A] 335:367–388Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yasuo Sekine
    • 1
  • Kinichi Hamaguchi
    • 2
  • Yukio Miyahara
    • 2
  • Masayuki Baba
    • 3
  • Kazuhiro Yasufuku
    • 3
  • Takehiko Fujisawa
    • 3
  • Yutaka Yamaguchi
    • 3
  1. 1.Division of Respiratory SurgerySakura National HospitalChibaJapan
  2. 2.Division of PathologySakura National HospitalChibaJapan
  3. 3.Department of Surgery, Institute of Pulmonary Cancer ResearchChiba University School of MedicineChibaJapan

Personalised recommendations