[liposarcoma. Aspects of pathomorphology--an analysis of 209 tumos].

Background: Among the heterogeneous group of adult soft tissue sarcomas, liposarcomas represent the largest entity along with malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH).
Patients and Methods: This article summarizes the results of pathomorphological data on 209 liposarcomas resected over a 10-year period.
Results: The most common tumor site was the thigh, and the peak age incidence was in the 5th and 6th decades. In general, three major subtypes of liposarcoma can be distinguished in terms of pathomorphology: well-differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcoma, myxoid/round cell liposarcoma, and pleomorphic liposarcoma. Well-differentiated liposarcomas represent malignancy grade 1 tumors without biological potential to metastasize, but which are able to relapse locally in cases of incomplete resection. When a local relapse has occurred, the liposarcoma may show dedifferentiation and may metastasize.
Conclusions: In the pathologic-anatomical diagnosis of liposarcomas, conventional light-microscopic findings are decisive. Additional methods of molecular pathology may help in single cases to gain further insights.