Myxoid liposarcoma is a rare cancer that develops from fat cells and may cause no symptoms. It can grow rapidly and become painful, and symptoms only appear when the tumor has become large enough to press against surrounding structures. Treatment varies depending on how far it has spread.
A myxoid liposarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops from fat cells and may cause no symptoms, appearing as a painless mass that slowly increases in size. Occasionally, the tumor can grow rapidly and become ulcerated. Often, symptoms only appear when the tumor has become large enough to press against surrounding structures. As a result, pain and numbness and sometimes loss of movement may occur. More general symptoms of tiredness, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting may also occur.
Soft tissue sarcomas grow from cells within the body’s connective tissue. Within the body, connective tissue forms a soft structure that connects, protects, and supports organs and other tissues. Liposarcomas are the most commonly encountered soft tissue sarcomas in adults. They develop from fat cells, but other types of soft tissue sarcoma can arise from different cells within the connective tissue. Five types of liposarcoma have been identified and these are known as well-differentiated, dedifferentiated, myxoid, pleomorphic and round cell liposarcoma.
This condition tends to occur more frequently in the limbs and, at first, their slow growth may go unnoticed. The swelling may only be brought to a person’s attention if it becomes painful, perhaps after it has been accidentally knocked or scratched, or if it has become very large. Sometimes, a myxoid liposarcoma growing on a limb can be tender or painful, and in some cases, the growth can be rapid. Any lump larger than 2 inches (about 5 cm) or that continues to get bigger should be seen by a doctor, as should a painful swelling or one that appears to be attached to deeper tissue in the skin.
If a myxoid liposarcoma develops within the abdominal cavity, it will not be visible and may gain about a few pounds, or a couple of pounds, before causing noticeable symptoms. Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and bloating may occur. If the tumor presses on a nerve, this can lead to symptoms of numbness, and if it interferes with a muscle, a part of the body can stop functioning normally. When liposarcoma presses on blood vessels, circulation can become blocked and the back pressure can lead to visibly swollen veins.
Treatment varies depending on how far it has spread. A tumor discovered early can be removed with surgery. After further progression, removal is more difficult and chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to treat the cancer instead. While it’s not known exactly how effective chemotherapy is for treating liposarcomas, it is thought that myxoid liposarcomas may be more sensitive to chemotherapy than other types. With treatment, myxoid liposarcoma has a more positive prognosis than other liposarcomas, with more than 80 percent of people expected to remain alive five years after diagnosis.
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