Atypical lipomatous tumor (ALT)

Case contributed by Valerio Giacalone
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

The patient had a large mass on the right thigh.

Patient Data

Age: 70 years
Gender: Female

In the vastus intermedius muscle of the right thigh, there is a voluminous expansive mass isointense to adipose tissue in T1- and T2-weighted sequences, with suppression of the fat signal in Fat-Sat sequences. It has a craniocaudal extension of about 24 cm, a maximum transverse diameter of 9 cm, and an anteroposterior diameter of about 7.5 cm.

Case Discussion

The voluminous mass in the right thigh showed intensitometric characteristics compatible with an adipose tumor. In fact, some septa were appreciated with a thickness of more than 3 mm, which showed slight enhancement after administration of a paramagnetic contrast medium. 
Therefore a biopsy was recommended with the suspicion of well-differentiated liposarcoma.
Four biopsy specimens were taken and the histological diagnosis was of an atypical lipomatous tumor (ALT).
The patient underwent surgical removal.

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