PP136: A rare case of nasopharyngeal liposarcoma

Abstract

Purpose Liposarcoma is a soft tissue malignant tumor that is common in adults. The trunk and lower extremities are the most likely sites of tumor development. The incidence of this type of tumor in the head and neck region is extremely low. Liposarcoma of the nasopharynx is exceptionally rare, with only three cases having been described in the literature. Materials and methods We present a case of a 53 year old male patient with a 5-year history of chronic nasal congestion. Nasal endoscopy showed a right-sided small lesion. MR imaging demonstrated a mass, situated at the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, measuring approximately 2 × 4 × 2.5 cm. Although the doctor suggested surgical resection, the patient denied. Five years later the patient seeks medical attention because he had been experiencing worsening of nasal congestive symptoms and right otalgia. Both MR imaging and nasopharyngeal endoscopy, recently performed, showed mild enlargement of the lesion (measuring approximately 3 × 4 cm). The patient underwent endoscopic biopsy and tumor debulking. Histopathological examination revealed a grade 2 myxoid-round cell liposarcoma. After histopathological confirmation, the patient was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of a doxorubicin-based regimen (110 mg/m 2 ) every 2 weeks for a total of 6 courses. Following chemotherapy, the patient was treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy. He received 66 Gy, fractionated at 2 Gy/day, 5 days a week, for 33 days. Radiotherapy was completed without any side effects. Results The patient is alive and disease free, 3 years after radiotherapy. Conclusions Although liposarcoma is a surgical disease, resection of the nasopharyngeal liposarcoma with an acceptable margin is not possible due to the anatomic location. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is not clearly defined while the role of postoperative radiotherapy, as an adjuvant therapy, is considered significant because it appears to decrease the rate of local recurrence.