Well-differentiated liposarcoma of the cheek misdiagnosed for lipoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Liposarcoma is the most common sarcoma entity and accounts for 17% to 30% of soft tissue sarcomas. There are several histological types including well-differentiated liposarcoma. This paper aims to underline the interest of immunohistochemical and cytogenetic studies to diagnose well-differentiated liposarcoma and to show the delicacy of performing a surgical procedure in the cheek area. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors report the case of a 48-year-old female patient who presented with the recurrence of a right jugal mass initially diagnosed as a lipoma on the resection specimen. The patient was reoperated 5 years later and further immunohistochemical and cytogenetic studies confirmed the diagnosis of well-differentiated jugal liposarcoma. DISCUSSION: Sarcomas are rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin, arising from connective and supporting tissues. It should be noted that certain MRI features can distinguish liposarcoma from lipoma. Conventional histology and immunohistochemistry are the basic means for the diagnosis and classification of liposarcomas. However, molecular biology can add to the pathologist's analysis and rule out differential diagnoses Liposarcoma of the maxillofacial region has a better prognosis compared to other parts of the human body. CONCLUSION: This paper underlines the interest of complementary immunohistochemical and cytogenetic studies to differentiate well-differentiated liposarcoma from lipoma as well as the potential for local recurrence of liposarcomas.