A giant gluteal lipoblastoma in a 24-month-old girl: A case report
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Zied Mansi1, Mahmoudi Ahmed1, Abdelkader Tounsi1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, IBN EL JAZZAR University Hospital, Kairouan, Tunisia.
Insights
Lipoblastomas are rare benign childhood tumors originating from embryonic fat. Complete surgical resection is the recommended treatment for these gluteal lipoblastomas to prevent recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Lipoblastomas are rare benign tumors originating from embryonic white fat, predominantly affecting infants and children.
- While generally benign with no reported metastasis, local recurrence is possible, especially with incomplete excision.
Observation:
- This report details a rare case of a giant gluteal lipoblastoma in a 24-month-old girl.
- The gluteal location is exceptional for this type of tumor.
Findings:
- Complete surgical resection was successfully performed, achieving a positive outcome.
- Imaging, particularly MRI, aids in diagnosis and preoperative assessment.
- Pathological examination is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management planning.
Implications:
- Complete resection with negative margins is the treatment of choice to minimize recurrence risk.
- Incomplete excision or a 'wait and see' approach may be considered for high-risk interventions, though recurrence rates are significant.
- This case highlights successful management of a rare presentation of lipoblastoma.
Introduction And Importance:
Lipoblastomas are rare benign tumors that arise from embryonic white fat and almost always occur in babies and children.
Case Presentation:
Here, we report a case of a giant gluteal lipoblastoma in a 24-month-old girl that was successfully treated via complete resection.
Clinical Discussion:
The gluteal location as in this case is an exceptional location. These tumors generally are benign, and there have been no reports of metastasis. Local recurrence can occur, particularly with lipoblastomatosis, when excision is incomplete. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice. The goal is always complete resection with negative margins, but this can be difficult to obtain with lipoblastomatosis. No spontaneous resolution or reduction of lipoblastoma has ever been reported, and a recurrence rate of 14 % and 25 % is reported in cases of incomplete excision.
Conclusion:
Lipoblastoma is a benign neoplasm of immature fat tissue occurring in infants. The gluteal region location is relatively rare. Imaging, especially MRI, is helpful in diagnosis and preoperative evaluation. An adequate pathological examination could bring huge benefits. Total surgical resection is the treatment of choice. Subtotal resection and "wait and see policy" may be discussed for highly risky intervention.
