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Benign Chest Wall Lipoblastoma in a 21-month-old Child: A Literature Review
Yousof Allarakia1, Asmaa Alshareef2,3, Abdulaziz M Alghamdi4,5
1From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Ministry of National Guard Affairs, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Lipoblastoma, a rare pediatric chest wall tumor, can be diagnosed with imaging and confirmed by pathology. Complete surgical excision ensures a favorable prognosis and prevents recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Lipoblastoma is a rare, benign adipocytic tumor originating from embryonal white fat, predominantly affecting infants and young children.
- While commonly found in extremities, trunk, head, and neck, chest wall lipoblastoma is infrequent and presents diagnostic and surgical complexities due to adjacent thoracic structures.
Abstract:
Lipoblastoma is a rare benign adipocytic tumor that typically affects infants and young children and arises from embryonal white fat. Although most cases occur in the extremities, trunk, head, and neck, chest wall involvement is uncommon and may pose diagnostic and surgical challenges due to the proximity of ribs and thoracic structures. Imaging guides evaluation, but definitive diagnosis relies on histopathology. Early recognition and complete excision are essential to prevent local progression or recurrence. A 21-month-old girl presented with an 8-month history of a slowly enlarging left anterior chest wall mass. She remained asymptomatic, with no systemic signs and no relevant medical or family history. Examination revealed a firm, fixed, nontender 5.4-cm mass without overlying skin changes. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lobulated T2-hyperintense lesion with internal septations and signal suppression on fat-saturation sequences, consistent with an adipocytic tumor. Intraoperatively, the mass was found to arise from the 10th rib. Complete excision was performed along with partial resection of the 9th, 10th, and 11th ribs. Pathology confirmed a 7-cm benign adipocytic tumor consistent with lipoblastoma. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient remained recurrence-free at the 6-month follow-up. Chest wall lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor in young children and may present as an enlarging yet asymptomatic mass. Imaging can suggest the diagnosis, but histology remains definitive. Complete surgical excision with clear margins provides an excellent prognosis and minimizes recurrence risk. This case highlights the importance of considering lipoblastoma in pediatric chest wall masses and underscores the favorable outcomes associated with timely, complete resection.
