Atypical Lipomatous Tumor/Well-Diff Liposarcoma : Prognosis

Prognosis: The prognosis of atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcomas (ALT/WDLs) is closely related to the site. Peripheral tumors and smaller tumors have a more favorable prognosis than retroperitoneal and larger tumors. Subcutaneous tumors can recur if incompletely excised but they don't metastasize unless they undergo dedifferentiation. The risk of dedifferentiation for retroperitoneal ALT/WDL is 10-15% and extremity-based tumors is 5%. The latency period is 7-10 years after the initial diagnosis but may be longer. The biologic behavior and the risk of progression to dedifferentiated liposarcoma cannot be predicted from morphology.

The image shows dedifferentiated liposarcoma (right half) that arose in an ALT/WDL of retroperitoneum (left half) in an elderly male.