Liposarcoma

Overview

Liposarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that is rare and can occur at any age but commonly found in older adults. It is a cancer type that starts from the fat cells. Liposarcoma is most commonly detected in the abdomen or limb. The most common choice of treatment is surgery as well as other treatments are also applied aside from surgery (e.g., radiation therapy).

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of liposarcoma differ based on its location:
Liposarcoma in the arms and legs symptoms:

• Pain
• Swelling
• A mass that grows under the skin
• Weakness of the extremities involved

Abdominal liposarcoma symptoms:

• Pain or cramps in the abdominal area
• Blood found in your vomit
• Abdominal swelling
• Constipation
• Blood in stool or black, tarry stool
• Feeling full even with a little amount of food consumption

If these symptoms persist and it worries you, consult your doctor.

Causes

The cause of liposarcoma is unclear but doctors suggest that it occurs when the fat cells undergo genetic mutation. This mutation instructs the abnormal cells to divide rapidly and outlive the healthy cells and later on forming a tumor.
There are various types of liposarcoma which can be categorized into those cells that are localized and slow, while the other category is fast growing and can invade other parts of the body.