Liposarcoma of the retropharyngeal space with rapidly worsening dyspnea: A case report and review of the literature

Liposarcomas represent a significant proportion of soft-tissue sarcomas. However, their occurrence in the head and neck is infrequent and they are exceedingly rare in the retropharyngeal space. The present study reports the case of a 58-year-old patient with retropharyngeal liposarcoma. Uniquely, the patient presented with rapidly worsening dyspnea. The diagnosis of liposarcoma was established following retropharyngeal tumor excision, although biopsies were performed twice. Adjuvant radiotherapy was refused by the patient. However, during the post-operative follow-up period, no sign of either local tumor recurrence or distant metastasis was observed. Previously reported cases were also reviewed to analyze the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease.