Undiff. Pleomorphic Sarcoma : Clinical Features

Clinical Features: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is tumor of elderly patients. Most cases occur between the ages of 50 and 70 years. It is rare below the age of 20 years. There is male predominance. It presents as a painless, slowly enlarging mass usually involving the deep soft tissues of the extremities (lower extremity, especially thigh > upper extremity). Retroperitoneal tumors, including an entity previously known as inflammatory MFH, are associated with paraneoplastic signs and symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, fever, and leukocytosis. This is secondary to production of tumor necrosis factor, IL-6 and IL-8 and other cytokines by the tumor. Most of these cases are dedifferentiated liposarcomas until proven otherwise and don't represent UPS. Similar to atypical fibroxanthomas, some of the cases of UPS are radiation-induced.

Figure courtesy of: Piero Picci, M.D., Director, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Instituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy. Used with permission.