Adolescent Paraspinal Lipoblastoma: A Case Report

Lipoblastomas are fatty tumors of mesenchymal origin with a peak incidence between the ages of 5 and 6 years. Several cases of lipoblastomas have been reported in the pediatric population, with few in the paraspinal musculature. We present a case of a paraspinal lipoblastoma in an adolescent.

An 11-year-old male presented with an asymptomatic thoracic mass. Imaging revealed a 5 cm3 lesion involving the left fourth and fifth ribs with extension into the T4-T5 neural foramen. Biopsy confirmed lipoblastoma. Marginal resection was performed without complication, and there was no recurrence at 2 years.

Lipoblastomas are rare mesenchymal tumors whose differential diagnosis includes lipomas and liposarcomas. While benign, lipoblastomas grow rapidly and can cause mass effect on neurovascular structures. Most cases are diagnosed in infancy; however, this patient was diagnosed in adolescence.