Lipoblastoma: a rare mediastinal tumor

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of embryonal fat that occurs almost exclusively in infants and children less than age 3. It is a benign tumor with a high recurrence rate. We present a case of mediastinal lipoblastoma in a 21-month-old girl who presented with respiratory infection and progressive dyspnea. Complete surgical excision of the mass was achieved through a lateral thoracotomy. Her postoperative course was uneventful and the histopathologic examination proved that the mass was a lipoblastoma. We emphasize that this rare mediastinal tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis of infants having a mediastinal mass.