Resection of a huge mediastinal well-differentiated liposarcoma involving left thoracic cavity

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lipoma/liposarcoma is a rare tumor of the mediastinum. CASE PRESENTATION: This article reported one case of giant anterior superior mediastinum well-differentiated liposarcoma involving the left thoracic cavity with symptom of dysphagia. The mediastinum liposarcoma was completely resected through a left thoracotomy. Histologic examination and molecular pathological test clarified the diagnosis as well-differentiated mediastinal liposarcoma. There has been no evidence of recurrence during the 8 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Molecular pathological examination of the MDM2, CDK4 and p16 gene in tumors provides the diagnostic gold standard in distinguishing well-differentiated liposarcoma from lipoma. Complete surgical resection is the first-line treatment choice for mediastinal lipoma/ liposarcoma.