Liposarcoma of Nasopharynx

Abstract

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.