# Primary Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma of the Duodenum: A Report of a Rare Case With a Review of the Literature

**Authors:** Kayra Cangoz, Muhammed Bahadir Avci, Merve Meryem Kiran, Firathan Sarialtin

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.101948 · Cureus · 2026-01-20

## TL;DR

A rare case of primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma in the duodenum is reported, highlighting the disease's aggressive nature and diagnostic challenges.

## Contribution

This report adds a new clinical case of primary duodenal dedifferentiated liposarcoma and emphasizes its diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.

## Key findings

- DDLPS is an aggressive malignancy with high recurrence and metastasis risks.
- The patient's case highlights the lack of standardized treatment for DDLPS.
- DDLPS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of duodenal masses.

## Abstract

Primary and metastatic tumors of the duodenum are rare, and primary duodenal dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) of this region are exceptionally uncommon. DDLPS is an aggressive malignancy characterized by a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. This report describes the case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with a 20-day history of isolated abdominal pain. CT images demonstrated a 68 x 120 mm lesion involving the distal portions of the duodenum. Intraoperatively, the lesion was found to be confined to the third and fourth portions, and a segmental duodenal resection with duodenojejunostomy using a circular stapler was performed. During the postoperative period, the patient experienced transient cholestatic findings likely secondary to papillary obstruction. After clinical improvement, she was lost to follow-up for seven months during doxorubicin therapy and later re-presented with extensive metastatic disease, ultimately resulting in death. Given the extremely limited number of similar cases, no standardized treatment strategy exists. This case highlights the importance of considering DDLPS in the differential diagnosis of duodenal masses, even in patients presenting with nonspecific symptoms, and provides additional insight that may guide clinical decision-making in future cases.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** doxorubicin (PubChem CID 31703)
- **Diseases:** dedifferentiated liposarcoma (MONDO:0020563), metastatic disease (MONDO:0024883)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SMN1 (survival of motor neuron 1, telomeric) [NCBI Gene 6606] {aka BCD541, GEMIN1, SMA, SMA1, SMA2, SMA3}, CD34 (CD34 molecule) [NCBI Gene 947], F13A1 (coagulation factor XIII A chain) [NCBI Gene 2162] {aka F13A}, MUC4 (mucin 4, cell surface associated) [NCBI Gene 4585] {aka ASGP, HSA276359, MUC-4}, VIM (vimentin) [NCBI Gene 7431], ANO1 (anoctamin 1) [NCBI Gene 55107] {aka DOG1, INDMS, MYMY7, ORAOV2, TAOS2, TMEM16A}, MDM2 (MDM2 proto-oncogene) [NCBI Gene 4193] {aka ACTFS, HDMX, LSKB, hdm2}, SOX10 (SRY-box transcription factor 10) [NCBI Gene 6663] {aka DOM, PCWH, SOX-10, WS2E, WS4, WS4C}, MLANA (melan-A) [NCBI Gene 2315] {aka MART-1, MART1}, CDK4 (cyclin dependent kinase 4) [NCBI Gene 1019] {aka CMM3, MCPH31, PSK-J3}, DES (desmin) [NCBI Gene 1674] {aka CDCD3, CSM1, CSM2, LGMD1D, LGMD1E, LGMD2R}, KIT (KIT proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 3815] {aka C-Kit, CD117, MASTC, PBT, SCFR}, ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238] {aka ALK1, CD246, NBLST3}, S100A1 (S100 calcium binding protein A1) [NCBI Gene 6271] {aka S100, S100-alpha, S100A}
- **Diseases:** mass (MESH:C536030), vomiting (MESH:D014839), duct (MESH:D001649), seizures (MESH:D012640), Duodenal liposarcomas (MESH:D004382), sarcomas (MESH:D012509), fatigue (MESH:D005221), cachexia (MESH:D002100), mesenchymal tumor (MESH:C535700), Lymphadenopathies (MESH:D008206), bleeding (MESH:D006470), nausea (MESH:D009325), ischemic necrosis (MESH:D005271), abdominal pain (MESH:D015746), edema (MESH:D004487), shortness of breath (MESH:D004417), Cancer (MESH:D009369), DDLPS (MESH:D008080), retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (MESH:D012186), abdominal inflammation (MESH:D007249), LMS (MESH:D007890), syncope (MESH:D013575), malignant melanoma (MESH:D008545), sarcomatoid carcinoma (MESH:D002292), GI bleeding (MESH:D006471), disseminated intravascular coagulation (MESH:D004211), papillary (MESH:D002291), sepsis (MESH:D018805), neuropathy of chronic disease (MESH:D002908), Primary and metastatic tumors (MESH:D001932), pancreatic lesions (MESH:D010182), Necrosis (MESH:D009336), hepatic lesion (MESH:D056486), duodenal mass (MESH:D004378), embolization (MESH:D004617), duodenal tumors (MESH:D004379), toxicity (MESH:D064420), gastric outlet obstruction (MESH:D017219), Soft Tissue Tumors (MESH:D012983), myxoid liposarcoma (MESH:D018208), peritonitis (MESH:D010538), GI obstruction (MESH:D005767), bile-flow obstruction (MESH:D002779), death (MESH:D003643), melena (MESH:D008551), GI stromal tumors (MESH:D046152), metastasis (MESH:D009362)
- **Chemicals:** eribulin (MESH:C490954), bilirubin (MESH:D001663), eosin (MESH:D004801), doxorubicin (MESH:D004317), Hematoxylin (MESH:D006416)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

11 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12921371/full.md

## References

13 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12921371/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12921371