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An Unexpected Cause of Syncope
Melisa Esposito1, Sulagna Das2, Yulith Roca Alvarez2
1Internal Medicine, Kettering Health, Dayton, USA.
Cureus
|May 30, 2023
Summary
Retroperitoneal liposarcomas can present with syncope, a rare cause of fainting. A thorough physical exam is crucial for diagnosing these challenging tumors, even with nonspecific symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Emergency Medicine
- Diagnostic Radiology
Background:
- Syncope is a frequent emergency department complaint with diverse etiologies.
- Retroperitoneal liposarcomas (RLS) are rare tumors with nonspecific presentations, posing diagnostic challenges.
- Early diagnosis of RLS is critical for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A patient presented to the emergency department with syncope as the sole chief complaint.
- The patient was diagnosed with retroperitoneal liposarcomas (RLS).
- The RLS diagnosis was facilitated by unexpected physical examination findings.
Findings:
- Retroperitoneal liposarcomas can manifest as syncope, mimicking common causes of fainting.
- A comprehensive physical examination identified key findings leading to the RLS diagnosis.
- Diagnostic work-up, prompted by physical exam, confirmed the presence of RLS.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of a detailed physical examination in the emergency department, irrespective of the initial complaint.
- It highlights the potential for rare retroperitoneal tumors to present with common symptoms like syncope.
- Early detection through thorough evaluation allows for timely surgical intervention and management of RLS.
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