Lipoblastoma in children: an analysis of 5 cases

Lipoblastoma is a very rare benign tumour that is caused by embryonal fat. The present five cases of lipoblastoma operated on during the years 1996-2005. The localization of the lipoblastomas in our series were very unusual. A six-monthold girl with giant mediastinal lipoblastoma; a two-year old boy with very rare lipoblastoma of the kidney; a three-year old boy with mesenterial lipoblastoma; a seven-year old boy with mesenterial lipoblastoma; and an eight-week old girl with perineal localization. Histological diagnosis can be difficult. The basic differential diagnosis is to be made between lipoblastoma, myxoid, and round cell liposarcoma. In our sample group of patients all lipoblastomas were successfully and completely removed and we did not see any recurrence of the tumours. In only one case was more radical surgery needed. One patient with mesenterial lipoblastoma had to undergo a 30 cm long resection of the small intestine.