Liposarcoma of the mesocolon--case report of a rare lesion

A middle-aged man with a 2-month history of lower abdominal pain was found to have a large left-sided abdominal lump. Radiological investigations (barium enema, ultrasound, and computed tomography scan) revealed a mass lesion in the area of the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and the rectum. Flexible sigmoidoscopy showed only mucosal edema and luminal narrowing. At laparotomy, a diffuse thickening of both the descending and sigmoid mesocolon extending into the mesorectum was seen, which suggested an inflammatory pathology. A left hemicolectomy with Hartmann's procedure was performed. After obtaining a histopathological diagnosis of liposarcoma of the mesocolon, an abdominoperineal resection of the rectum was done. The patient was advised to undergo postoperative radiotherapy but he did not comply and was thereafter lost to follow-up.