A Case of Retroperitoneal Lipoblastoma in a Child

ABSTRACT

Lipoblastoma, a rare benign tumor of adipose tissue, occurs in infants and young children. The prevalent sites are chiefly the upper and the lower extremities and less commonly the head, neck, trunk, mesentery, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum. Circumscribed forms (benign lipoblastoma) are more common and superficially located. Diffuse forms (diffuse lipoblastomatosis) are more deeply situated. Prognosis is excellent after excision. The recurrence rate after surgical excision is low and tumors recur mainly in the deep diffuse type because of incomplete removal of the tumor. Therefore, wide local excision appears to be the treatment of choice. We experienced a 4-year-old boy who presented with a palpable mass on the left upper abdomen and was suspected to be a benign lipoblastoma of the retroperitoneum on computerized axial tomography. The tumor was completely excised. Final histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a benign lipoblastoma.