Open AccessLiposarcoma of Nasopharynx
Author(s) -
Bianco Andrea S.,
Garcia Esperanza,
Sanchez Mariana,
Agostini Gabriela
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451426a126
Subject(s) - medicine , liposarcoma , radiation therapy , lesion , radiological weapon , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , incidence (geometry) , disease , surgery , gold standard (test) , pathology , sarcoma , physics , optics
Objective Considering this rare entity, the clinical and morphological similarity with more common diseases, the aim of this publication is to understand and be able to aid in the diagnosis, avoiding the possibility of it going unnoticed. Method A case of liposarcoma in the nasopharynx was presented, diagnosed, and treated in the Avila Clinic in Caracas, Venezuela. This was followed by a retrospective review of cases in the published literature. Results A 29‐year‐old white woman with a 2‐year history of bilateral chronic nasal obstruction and rhinolalia clausa on whom nasal endoscopy showed a 3 centimeter gray‐white lesion attached to the nasopharynx. Histopathological report confirmed the diagnosis of well‐differentiated liposarcoma. The incidence of liposarcoma of nasopharynx is extremely low, presenting as a painless, hard‐edged, slow growth, with the lesion usually going unnoticed. Though nonspecific, authors consider magnetic resonance imaging the gold standard radiologic tool. The role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is still not clear. Conclusion By the time of this report the patient was free of disease following surgical resection. There is no sufficient data for statistical significance on the prevalence, clinical aspects, treatment of choice, or prognosis of this unusual disease. Radiological studies may help to exclude other entities, but are nonspecific.