Recurrent Lipoblastoma of the Chest Wall in a Child

ABSTRACT

Lipoblastoma is a relatively rare benign tumor that occurs in infancy and early childhood, and it arises from embryonic white fat. It is classified into two forms based on pathologic features benign lipoblastoma is a superficial, well-defined mass and diffuse lipoblastomatosis is a deep, infiltrative lesion. They are both histologically benign, but local recurrences can happen without any tendency of metastasis. The prevalent sites are chiefly the upper and the lower extremities and less commonly the head, neck, trunk, mesentery, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum. The treatment of choice is surgical excisions, and the prognosis is good, but recurrence is possible in the case of incomplete excision, so wide local excision is preferred. We experienced a locally recurrent lipoblastoma in an 8 month old female child in the chest wall that reoccurred three months after the primary excision. Because 9th and 10th rib invasion was suspected on magnetic resonance imaging study, mass excision along with partial 9th and 10th ribs resection was performed. The histologic diagnosis confirmed lipoblastoma.