Lipoblastoma

Background/Purpose: Lipoblastoma is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of embr yonal fat that occurs almost exclusively in infants and children. This stud y was done to determine the clinical and pathologic characteristics of lipo blastoma. Methods: Nine cases of pathologically proven lipoblastoma from 1979 to 1997 were reviewed. There were 6 boys and 3 girls ranging in age from 3 months to 29 months. Results: A soft tissue mass was the chief complaint in 7 patients, abdomina l distension in 1 patient with a retroperitoneal mass, and defecation diffi culty in 1 patient with a perirectal mass. In 4 patients, tumors occurred o n the back. Other tumor location includes the neck, scrotum, retroperitoneu m, perirectal area, and buttock in 1 patient each. Lesions measured 2.3 to 19.5 cm. Complete excision was done in 8 patients. One perirectal tumor was removed by both the posterior sagittal approach and the intraabdominal app roach but incompletely resected. Two tumors located on the back recurred wi th intraspinal extension 12 months and 18 months after resection. Second re section and second resection with laminectomy were done. Leg pain and urina ry incontinence developed in 1 patient but improved on conservative treatme nt. Conclusions: Lipoblastoma is a benign neoplasm but can frequently recur (25 %) in spite of complete excision. Lipoblastomas occurring on the back had a high recurrence rate (50%) and associated with intraspinal extension. J Pe diatr Surg 36:905-907. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.