Like all malignant tumors, it is characterized by rapid growth, damage to surrounding tissues and a tendency to recurrence. The course depends on the degree of differentiation of the tumor, that is, how much its cells have lost their function. Highly differentiated tumors, where the cells partially retain their normal structure, grow relatively slowly and often do not bother the patient. In poorly differentiated liposarcomas, cells divide rapidly, which is why such a tumor can quickly reach a large size.
Diagnosis of liposarcoma abroad
Symptoms such as pain, swelling, and numbness in the affected area may be the reason for the examination. In the presence of metastases, depending on their location, nausea, difficulty breathing, and heaviness in the abdomen appear. Unfortunately, many patients do not notice any symptoms and do not consult doctors for a long time.
The main advantages of liposarcoma diagnosis in foreign clinics:
- A detailed general examination can reveal a tumor at an early stage;
- An accurate analysis will make it possible to make a differential diagnosis with other types of malignant and benign tumors, as well as select the most effective medications.
The examination includes X-rays and MRI scans to visualize the tumor and clarify its size and location. A CT scan of the chest is prescribed additionally, as liposarcoma metastases most often spread to the organs of the chest cavity. The key stage of diagnosis is a biopsy, in the laboratory the tumor tissues are examined to determine the type of liposarcoma and the degree of malignancy.
Treatment of liposarcoma abroad
The preferred treatment method is surgical removal of the neoplasm. The amount of intervention depends on its location and the degree of germination into the surrounding tissues. To remove as many tumor cells as possible and avoid recurrence, surgeons excise not only the tumor, but also part of the surrounding tissues — muscles and bones. In the treatment of liposarcoma abroad, preference is given to limb preservation operations. Amputations are performed in less than 5% of cases.
Chemotherapy has not found widespread use, although it is sometimes used as an auxiliary method of destroying metastases. Research is currently underway on new substances and schemes for targeted (i.e., targeted at tumor cells) therapy, but more often radiation therapy or radiosurgery is used in conjunction with surgery. Ionizing radiation before surgery can shrink the tumor, and then destroy the remaining cells.
The success of liposarcoma treatment abroad
Five-year survival rate of patients treated abroad: from 56 to 100%. The prognosis is influenced by the degree of sarcoma differentiation, because the higher it is, the less likely it is to relapse or complicate. The creation of new drugs and the continuous improvement of radiation therapy make it possible to achieve ever higher results.
South Korea
China
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