A Case of Axial Liposarcoma for which a 5-year Recurrence-free Period was Achieved after Repeated Excision and Irradiation

Abstract

The patient, a male in his 61-year-old, had undergone excision of a right axillary mass (approximately 10 cm) 20 years prior, and the histopathological diagnosis was lipoma. Eleven years later, he underwent a second excision for a recurrent mass (about 15 cm) in the same area, and the histopathological diagnosis was lipoma, as previously. Four years later, a third excision was performed for a recurrent mass (approximately 5 cm) at the same site, and the histopathological diagnosis was dedifferentiated liposarcoma, with a possibility of positive margins. Almost 1 month after the surgery, an approximately 5 cm mass was found in the same area again, and it was diagnosed as recurrent liposarcoma, and a fourth excision was performed with as much margin as possible. The histopathological diagnosis was atypical lipomatous tumor, which was thought to be a related lesion, although the liposarcoma that was previously observed was not found. Because the tumor was close to the dissection surface, the right axilla was irradiated with a total of 50 Gy/25 Fr, focusing on the area thought to be the tumor bed after surgery. There has been no evidence of recurrence in the 5 years after the last treatment.