The retropharyngeal space – an unusual location for liposarcoma

Liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma, accounting for 20% of all sarcomas in adult. However, in the head and neck region, liposarcoma is markedly less common than in other body sites, comprising only 2% to 9% of sarcomas found in the region. The occurrence of this neoplasm in the retropharyngeal region is even less common, with only about 11 cases reported in the medical literature. Herein, we describe an instance where the neoplasm recurred in the retropharyngeal region of a 77-year-old Chinese man. The patient first presented with airway obstruction 6 years ago resulting in the discovery and excision of the tumour which was located in the soft tissue from the C1 to C7 vertebrae and was inseparable from the cervical oesophagus. An excision was attempted at that point in time without obtaining margin clearance. Histology of the original and subsequent specimens disclosed a well-differentiated liposarcoma. A summary of the clinico-pathological findings as well as potential problems in the diagnosis of retropharyngeal liposarcomas is discussed.