title: Well-differentiated hand liposarcoma with bone metastases treated successfully with zoledronic Acid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Well-differentiated liposarcomas of the upper extremities, such as the hand or forearm, are extremely rare and are commonly misdiagnosed and considered benign. They are frequently reported as having low metastatic potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 58-year-old man with well-differentiated hand liposarcoma and diffuse bone metastases. The patient initially presented with a tumor of the thenar eminence and was treated with marginal surgical excision and external beam irradiation. 4 months after this treatment, soft tissue local recurrence and skeletal metastases were detected. Zoledronic acid treatment (4 mg per month) was initiated, and both the tumor and the metastases regressed. The patient remains cancer-free 3.5 years after diagnosis of the metastatic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant metastatic disease can develop in patients with well-differentiated liposarcomas. The beneficial effect of zoledronic acid observed in this case may be related to its anticancer properties, as described in phase III trials in various tumor types.
authors.affiliation: Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, First Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Greece. mistakidou@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mystakidou
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Panagiotou
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brountzos
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouloulias
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gouliamos
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008080:Liposarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid