Skip to main content
Log in

Atypical lipomatous tumors of the face: a controversial issue

  • Review Article
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We reviewed the topic of atypical lipomatous tumors including definition, diagnosis and management, with special emphasis on head and neck location and to report on the management of a rare case located in the temporalis muscle. Atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas (ALT/WDLS) are rarely reported in the head and neck. Their behavior dictates a complete resection. Resection with a safety margin is sometimes needed according to the histological characteristics. Tumors located to the masticator space can be accessed through a mucosal approach achieving relative safety to the facial nerve. ALT constitute a group of tumors of a borderline behavior. Their management can be affected by some histological criteria and by their location in the head and neck region where vital structures can be affected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Enterline HT, Culberson JD, Rochlin DB, Brady LW (1960) Liposarcoma. A clinical and pathological study of 53 cases. Cancer 13:932–950

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Evans HL, Soule EH, Winkelmann RK (1979) Atypical lipoma, atypical intramuscular lipoma, and well differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma: a reappraisal of 30 cases formerly classified as well differentiated liposarcoma. Cancer 43(2):574–584

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Enzinger FM, Weiss SW (eds) (1988) Soft tissue tumors, 2nd edn. Mosby, St Louis

  4. Weiss SW, Goldblum JR (eds) (2001) Enzinger and Weiss’s soft tissue tumors, 4th edn. Mosby, St. Louis

  5. Azumi N, Curtis J, Kempson RL, Hendrickson MR (1987) Atypical and malignant neoplasms showing lipomatous differentiation. A study of 111 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 11(3):161–183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fletcher CDM, Unni KK, Mertens F (eds) (2002) Pathology and genetics of tumors of soft tissue and bone. Oxford University Press, Oxford

  7. Rosai J, Akerman M, Dal Cin P, DeWever I, Fletcher CD, Mandahl N, Mertens F, Mitelman F, Rydholm A, Sciot R, Tallini G, Van den Berghe H, Van de Ven W, Vanni R, Willen H (1996) Combined morphologic and karyotypic study of 59 atypical lipomatous tumors. Evaluation of their relationship and differential diagnosis with other adipose tissue tumors (a report of the CHAMP Study Group). Am J Surg Pathol 20(10):1182–1189

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kim JY, Park JM, Lim GY, Chun KA, Park YH, Yoo JY (2002) Atypical benign lipomatous tumors in the soft tissue: radiographic and pathologic correlation. J Comput Assist Tomogr 26(6):1063–1068

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Matsumoto K, Hukuda S, Ishizawa M, Chano T, Okabe H (1999) MRI findings in intramuscular lipomas. Skeletal Radiol 28(3):145–152

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kapila K, Ghosal N, Gill SS, Verma K (2003) Cytomorphology of lipomatous tumors of soft tissue. Acta Cytol 47(4):555–562

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kooby DA, Antonescu CR, Brennan MF, Singer S (2004) Atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma of the extremity and trunk wall: importance of histological subtype with treatment recommendations. Ann Surg Oncol 11(1):78–84

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Stewart MG, Schwartz MR, Alford BR (1994) Atypical and malignant lipomatous lesions of the head and neck. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 120(10):1151–1155

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Golledge J, Fisher C, Rhys-Evans PH (1995) Head and neck liposarcomas. Cancer 76(6):1051–1058

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fanburg-Smith JC, Furlong MA, Childers ELB (2002) Liposarcoma of the oral and salivary gland region: a clinicopathologic study of 18 cases with emphasis on specific sites, morphologic subtypes, and clinical outcome. Mod Pathol 15(10):1020–1031

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. McCulloch TM, Makielski KH, McNutt MA (1992) Head and neck liposarcoma. A histopathologic reevaluation of reported cases. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 118(10):1045–1049

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Stout AP Liposarcoma (1944) The malignant tumor of lipoblasts. Ann Surg 335:367–388

    Google Scholar 

  17. D’Agostino AN, Soule EH, Miller RH (1963) Sarcomas of the peripheral nerves and somatic soft tissues associated with multiple neurofibromatosis (Von Recklinghausen’s disease). Cancer 16:1015–1027

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lawson W, Reino A (1998) Odontogenic infection. In: Bailey BJ, Calhoun KH, Deskin RW et al (eds) Head and neck surgery—otolaryngology, 2nd edn. Lippincott-Raven, Philadephia, pp 672–675

  19. Gray H, Lewis W (eds) (2000) Anatomy of the human body, 20th edn. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, PA, http://www.bartleby.com/107/202.html

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Omar Sabra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zaytoun, G., Sabra, O., Youssef, M. et al. Atypical lipomatous tumors of the face: a controversial issue. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 263, 1065–1069 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0153-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0153-4

Keywords

Navigation