title: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma with features of rhabdomyosarcoma.
abstract: We describe a case of recurrent dedifferentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma with light microscopy features of rhabdomyosarcoma, the first such reported case. The tumor contains a pleomorphic pattern consisting of plump fusiform cells, tadpole cells, malignant appearing lipoblasts, and other nondescript bizarre cells. Of particular interest is a number of tumor cells with plump, bizarre nuclei which contain cross-striations of skeletal muscle pattern. The literature on dedifferentiated liposarcoma is reviewed, and the significance of this case in terms of a current model of mesenchymal differentiation is discussed, with particular attention to the postulate of a common precursor for a variety of soft-tissue tumor histologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Salzano
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tomkiewicz
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Africano
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D008080:Liposarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure