MEDIASTINAL LIPOBLASTOMA WITH INTRASPINAL EXTENSION - MRI DEMONSTRATION

Lipoblastomatous lesions are mesenchymal tumors of embryonal white fat and are classified into two forms: a superficial, well-defined mass ( lipoblastoma) or a deep, infiltrative lesion (lipoblastomatosis), We r eport an unique case of mediastinal lipoblastoma in a 17-month-old boy which harbored a dual nature and exhibited the characteristics of bot h forms, a large well-encapsulated intrathoracic main tumor.with focal infiltrative features at the thoracic inlet and transforaminal intras pinal extension forming a long-segment extradural mass. In addition to specific signal characterization of a fatty mediastinal mass with int ratumoral streaks and whorls corresponding to the fibrovascular networ k, magnet ic resonance (MR) imaging offered clear demonstration of the chest wall, lower neck and intraspinal extension, which was important for preoperative planning. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.