Diagnostic accuracy of biopsy after neoadjuvant treatment for well-differentiated and dedifferentiated...

Accurate histopathological grading of percutaneous biopsies is essential to guide adequate management of patients with suspected retroperitoneal liposarcoma. In this regard, however, limited reliability has been described. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to assess the diagnostic accuracy in retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas and simultaneously investigate its impact on patients' survival.

Reports of an interdisciplinary sarcoma tumor board between 2012 and 2022 were systematically screened for patients with well-differentiated (WDLPS) and dedifferentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma (DDLPS). Histopathological grading on pre-operative biopsy was correlated with corresponding postoperative histology. Additionally, patients' survival outcomes were examined. All analyses were performed in two subgroups: patients with primary surgery and patients with neoadjuvant treatment.

A total of 82 patients met our inclusion criteria. Diagnostic accuracy of patients who underwent upfront resection (n = 32) was significantly inferior to patients with neoadjuvant treatment (n = 50) (66% versus 97% for WDLPS, p < 0.001; 59% versus 97% for DDLPS, p < 0.001). For patients with primary surgery, histopathological grading on biopsy and surgery was concordant in only 47% of cases. Sensitivity for detecting WDLPS was higher than for DDLPS (70% versus 41%). Higher histopathological grading in surgical specimens correlated with worse survival outcomes (p = 0.01).

Histopathological grading of RPS may no longer be reliable after neoadjuvant treatment. The true accuracy of the percutaneous biopsy may need to be studied in patients who do not receive neoadjuvant treatment. Future biopsy strategies should aim to improve identification of DDLPS to inform patient management.