[Diagnosis and surgical resection of faciocervical lipomas in children]

To discuss the clinical characteristics, imaging findings, surgical treatment and effectiveness of faciocervical lipomas in children.

Twenty children with lipomas who were performed surgical resection under the tracheal intubation anesthesia, of which 3 cases located in face and 17 cases located in neck were retrospectively analyzed. Computed tomography (CT) was used in 8 cases and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 6 cases for differential diagnosis. CT and MRI were used to diagnose 6 patients pre-operatively.

The image of computed tomography (CT) revealed that 15 cases showed oval and flat circular area and 5 cases showed lobulated lesion. The CT value was negative typically. The signal was inhomogeneous in MRI. The patients' magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presented a high signal intensity on T1 and T2WI. The hyperintense signal can be suppressed in fat-suppression T2WI sequence. The hypointense of tumor signals fell in tandem surrounding adipose tissue. All the patients got satisfied curative effect after operation. There were no complications such as trachyphonia, bucking and dyspnea. Following up for 6 months to 2 years,no recurrence case occurred.

Lipomas generally occur in adult patients, quite rare in children. Imaging examination is helpful in the differential diagnosis of lipoma. Surgical resection is the only effective treatment for lipomas at present.