Mediastinal liposarcoma: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal Liposarcoma (ML) is an exceedingly rare neoplasm, accounting for less than 1% of all liposarcomas. Surgical resection is the most effective therapeutic modality, while adjuvant radiation therapy may be recommended for unresectable tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report presents a rare case of a 52-year-old Syrian male patient with well-differentiated mediastinal liposarcoma (ML) who presented with exertional dyspnea, cough, and weight loss. Imaging studies revealed a large tumor causing extrinsic compression on the right lung, as well as compression of the heart and great vessels. CT-guided biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma, and the patient underwent surgical resection. The patient had a rapid postoperative recovery and was discharged on the fourth day post-operation, displaying an excellent postoperative status. The patient was followed up for 3 months postoperatively with no recurrence. CONCLUSION: This report highlights the significance of incorporating ML into the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses, particularly in individuals presenting with exertional dyspnea and weight loss. Furthermore, this report provides a comprehensive review of previously reported cases of ML in the medical literature.