Liposarcomas of the head and neck: a review of the literature and addition of four cases.

Liposarcomas of the head and neck are rare. There have been 25 previously reported patients in the literature. Four patients with head and neck liposarcomas, recently treated by the Head and Neck Surgery Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, are presented. Less than half of reported patients were noted to be living without evidence of disease. Prognosis generally corresponds to the cell type of the tumor. Intraoral, cheek and orbital tumors seem to have a worse prognosis compared to neck tumors. Wide local excision remains the treatment of choice. Advances in surgical techniques have allowed adequate therapy for most head and neck liposarcomas. Advanced lesions should be managed by conservative surgery and radical radiation therapy.