Liposarcoma

Diagnosis

These procedures may be done to diagnose liposarcoma:

• Imaging tests. X-ray, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography (CT) Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be suggested by the doctor to visualize the tumor’s size and whether it has spread or not.
• Tissue Biopsy. A tiny sample of the suspected tissue is collected in a way that is determined by the location of the tumor and sent to the lab for analysis.
• Laboratory Tests. The prognosis and treatment of liposarcoma is decided after careful analysis of a pathologist who are experts in studying the tissues of the body and the blood. The pathologist uses lab examinations to study samples which may include molecular genetic testing, cytogenetic analysis, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Treatment

These are the treatment options for liposarcoma

Surgery

The surgeon aims to remove the whole liposarcoma from the body. However, if it has invaded other organs around it and it is impossible to totally remove, other treatment options may be done to reduce the size of the tumor to make it more accessible.

Radiation therapy

This is use of high-powered energy beams are used through X-rays and protons to destroy cancer cells. Before surgical removal of liposarcoma, radiation may be utilized to reduce the size of the tumor and makes it easier to remove. Furthermore, radiation may be applied after surgery to kill the cancer cells which might have been left inside the body.

Chemotherapy

The medications are used in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells but it is not suitable for all types of liposarcoma. The pathologist needs to precisely examine the cancer cells in order to assess if chemotherapy is the right treatment option.
Furthermore, chemotherapy is also used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor or after the surgery to destroy the cancer cells that remain. Chemotherapy can be used as a cancer treatment alone, or paired with radiation therapy.