Well-differentiated hand liposarcoma with bone metastases treated successfully with zoledronic Acid

Well-differentiated liposarcomas of the upper extremities, such as the hand or forearm, are extremely rare and are commonly misdiagnosed and considered benign. They are frequently reported as having low metastatic potential.

We report the case of a 58-year-old man with well-differentiated hand liposarcoma and diffuse bone metastases. The patient initially presented with a tumor of the thenar eminence and was treated with marginal surgical excision and external beam irradiation. 4 months after this treatment, soft tissue local recurrence and skeletal metastases were detected. Zoledronic acid treatment (4 mg per month) was initiated, and both the tumor and the metastases regressed. The patient remains cancer-free 3.5 years after diagnosis of the metastatic disease.

Significant metastatic disease can develop in patients with well-differentiated liposarcomas. The beneficial effect of zoledronic acid observed in this case may be related to its anticancer properties, as described in phase III trials in various tumor types.