Atypical Lipomatous Tumor/Well Differentiated Liposarcoma: a Borderline Malignancy Tumor.

Controversy exists with regard to the nomenclature, treatment and outcome of a group of well-differentiated lipomatous tumors sometimes labelled as atypical lipomatous tumors. For elimination of inadequate or excessive treatment it has been advocated that the term well-differentiated liposarcomas be retained for retroperitoneal/mediastinal tumors and atypical lipomatous tumors for the rest of the sites. The most important prognostic factor for ALT/WD liposarcoma is anatomic location, overall mortality ranging from 0% for ALT of the extremities to more than 80% for WD liposarcomas occurring in the retroperitoneum if the patients are followed up for 10-20 years. Primary treatment of ALT/WD liposarcoma is represented by a complete, preferably wide-margin surgical resection. The role of radiation therapy for atypical lipomatous tumors/well-differentiated liposarcomas is still unclear. Despite the side effects of postoperative radiation therapy it has been shown that in patients with positive surgical margins postoperative RT in doses over 64Gy, improves local control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]