Retroperitoneal Lipoblastoma With Cord Compression in an Adult Patient: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor of adipocytes, predominantly affecting infants and children.
• It most commonly occurs in the extremities, head, and neck, with retroperitoneal involvement being exceptionally rare.

Observation:

• A 24-year-old male presented with acute spinal cord compression, an unusual initial symptom for retroperitoneal lipoblastoma.
• Diagnostic workup included biopsy, immunostaining (CD34 positive), and cytogenetics, which confirmed lipoblastoma and ruled out metastasis.

Findings:

• Histopathology confirmed retroperitoneal lipoblastoma in an adult patient.
• Immunostaining was positive for CD34 and negative for desmin, DDIT3, MDM2, and PLAG1.
• The patient underwent successful surgical resection with intraoperative radiation therapy, with no signs of recurrence or metastasis on follow-up CT scans.

Implications:

• This case underscores the potential for retroperitoneal lipoblastoma to occur in adults and present with atypical symptoms like acute cord compression.
• It highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses in adult patients with seemingly common presentations.
• The successful management emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach involving surgery and radiation therapy for retroperitoneal lipoblastoma.