Abstract Background Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), which accounts for an estimated 15–20% of liposarcomas, is a high-grade and aggressive malignant neoplasm, exhibiting a poor response to available therapeutic agents. However, genetic alteration profiles of DDLPS as well as the role of NF1 mutations have not been studied extensively. Case presentation The current study reports a patient presenting with rapidly growing DDLPS accompanied by multiple lung and pleural metastases, in whom whole-exome sequencing revealed a NF1 truncating mutation of the known pathogenic variant, c.C7486T, p.R2496X, as well as multiple copy number alterations (CNAs), including the well-known 12q13–15 amplification, and multiple chromothripsis events encompassing potential cancer-related genes. Conclusions Our results suggest that, in addition to the 12q13–15 amplification, NF1 inactivation mutation and other CNAs may contribute to DDLPS tumorigenesis accompanied by aggressive clinical features.