Primary parotid liposarcoma

Abstract

Introduction: Primary liposarcoma is very rare in the parotid gland. To date, only 8 cases of primary parotid liposarcoma have been reported. The aim of this study is to report on a case of primary parotid liposarcoma highlighting the complexity of its treatment and analyze treatment outcomes of other reported cases.

Case summary: We report a case of parotid liposarcoma arising in the left parotid gland of a 66 year-old man, causing local morbidity, recurrence, repeated surgical treatment and death 5 months after initial treatment.

Discussion: Parotid liposarcoma is marked by a high probability of local recurrence of up to 70% and is prone to distant metastatic spread, as was the case in our patient. Based on limited experience from published literature, optimal treatment entails radical surgery with negative margins. Postoperative radiotherapy is an option for patients with large high-grade tumors, positive margins and involvement of complex anatomic subsites. High-grade tumors have a worse outcome despite the addition of surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

Keywords: Head and neck; Liposarcoma; Parotid neoplasms; Surgery.