Chest wall lipoblastoma in a seven-month-old girl: a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Adipose Tissue Tumors

Background:

• Lipoblastoma is a rare, benign adipose tissue tumor predominantly affecting infants and young children.
• While typically found in extremities and trunk, it can occur in thoracic locations, including the thoracic wall.
• These tumors, despite potential for rapid growth and local invasion, generally have a good prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a unique case of a pediatric thoracic wall lipoblastoma.
• To describe the surgical management and outcomes of this rare presentation.
• To contribute to the literature on thoracic wall lipoblastomas and their treatment.

Main Methods:

• A 7-month-old female infant presented with a rapidly growing right hemithorax mass.
• Surgical resection of the thoracic wall mass was performed for diagnosis and treatment.
• The resulting thoracic wall defect was reconstructed using an absorbable polyglactine mesh.

Main Results:

• Pathological diagnosis confirmed the excised mass as a benign lipoblastoma.
• Postoperative recovery was stable, with no complications related to the mesh repair.
• Follow-up at 24 months showed no evidence of tumor recurrence.

Conclusions:

• Thoracic wall resection, while uncommon for benign lipoblastoma, can be a viable treatment option.
• This case represents the first reported instance of thoracic wall resection for a benign lipoblastoma, detailing clinical and histopathologic findings.
• Successful surgical management and reconstruction ensure good long-term outcomes for pediatric thoracic wall lipoblastomas.