What is MDM2? MDM2 is a gene that promotes cell division (the creation of new cells). Normal cells and those in non-cancerous tumours have two copies of the MDM2 gene. In contrast, cancerous tumours such as atypical lipomatous tumour/well differentiated liposarcoma have more than two copies of the MDM2 gene. How do pathologists test for …
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Background: An atypical lipomatous tumour (ALT) is a type of cancer made up of fat. ALTs can start anywhere in the body but the most common location for this tumour is the abdomen. Another name for an ALT is well differentiated liposarcoma. Is an atypical lipomatous tumour a type of cancer? Yes, ALT is a …
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Background: Well differentiated liposarcoma is a type of cancer that develops from fat cells. Unlike normal fat, the cells in a well differentiated liposarcoma have abnormal shapes and sizes, but they still resemble normal fat cells under the microscope. This type of cancer is usually slow-growing and less likely to spread to other parts of …
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Background: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is an aggressive type of cancer that typically starts in a deep location of the body, such as the abdomen. It is called dedifferentiated because it arises from within a similar but less aggressive type of cancer called well differentiated liposarcoma/atypical lipomatous tumour. The term ‘liposarcoma’ means that the cancer was originally …
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What is an intramuscular lipoma? Intramuscular lipomas are non-cancerous tumours made up of fat. These tumours develop deep inside a muscle and they may feel like a lump. Often, intramuscular lipomas are not well separated from the surrounding normal muscle which can make it challenging for your surgeon to remove the tumour completely. What is …
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What is a lipoma? A lipoma is a non-cancerous tumour made up of fat cells. Most lipomas occur in the skin but this tumour can be found almost anywhere in the body. Can a lipoma turn into cancer over time? A lipoma cannot turn into cancer over time. However, tumours that are incompletely removed can …
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