title: Retroperitoneal liposarcomas: the experience of a tertiary Asian center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liposarcoma is the single most common soft tissue sarcoma in the retroperitoneum.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of patients with primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma treated between June 1990 and June 2005 were conducted to evaluate the clinical results of resection for retroperitoneal liposarcomas (RPLS) and the prognostic factors for disease recurrence and patient survival in an Asian population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients operated on for curative intent (12 Males, 9 Females; mean age: 52.4 years) were evaluated. Of these, 13 presented with tumors that were well differentiated (61.9%), 4 (19.0%) with myxoid/round cell, 3 (14.3%) with dedifferentiated and 1(4.8%) with pleomorphic morphology. The median tumor burden was 36 cm (9-83). Median follow-up time was 62 months. There was no peri-operative mortality and morbidity occurred in 6(28.6%) patients. Surgical margins were involved in 10(47.6%) patients. Resection of contiguous organs was required in 15(71.4%) to achieve gross surgical margins. Eleven out of the 21(52%) of the patients had recurrence of the tumor. Median disease-free survival was 19 months and the overall 3- and 5-year survival rate was 87% and 49% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An aggressive surgical approach in both primary and recurrent RPLS in our institution is associated with 3- and 5-year survival rate of 87% and 49% respectively. Contiguous organ resection is often required to achieve local control.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, 169608, Singapore. seryee@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ser Yee
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Brian Kim Poh
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Melissa Ching Ching
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Min Hoe
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Pierce Kah Hoe
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Wai Keong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: London L P J
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Khee Chee
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Soo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008080:Liposarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome