[Abdominal liposarcomas]

Abdominal liposarcomas are a rare group of tumors and their principles of treatment are based in accumulated experiences of retrospective series. PURPOSE--To report seven cases of abdominal liposarcomas and to discuss the main diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of these tumors nowadays. METHODS--Seven patients operated for abdominal liposarcomas were in the Surgical Gastroenterology Discipline of Escola Paulista de Medicina (UFESP) during 30 months. The major clinic, ultrasonographic, tomographic, surgical and histopathological features were collected in each case. RESULTS--Authors call attention to the unusualness of these tumors, their propensity (while primary) to grow in their own place, without invading the tissues around or metastasizing, and when they are recurrent to their more aggressive malignity. They consider that computerized tomography is the most useful diagnostic procedure and they discard the need of percutaneous biopsy (guided or not) in the preoperative period. They emphasize the fundamental role of radical excision surgery in these tumors treatment and also emphasize the importance of the resection with proper margins, even if an associated resection of visceral organs is necessary. They consider that now radiotherapy and chemotherapy are not very effective methods to the adjuvant treatment of these tumors. CONCLUSION--It is important an accurate follow-up of the operated patients in order to indicate, when necessary, repetitive resection surgeries, even if they are palliative (citoredution surgeries), with the purpose of improving the expectation of life.