Congenital tongue base lipoblastoma causing neonatal airway compromise

Abstract

Lipoblastomas are benign tumours of immature fat cells presenting in infancy. A lipoblastoma within the airway lumen causing airway compromise is an extremely rare occurrence. We present a 6 hours of life girl who had airway compromise due to a lobulated mass at the base of the tongue. The mass was excised after emergency endotracheal intubation.

Neonatal Airway Abnormalities

“…Cyst excision via an EXIT procedure or shortly after birth may be warranted depending on the size, as rapid or unpredictable cyst expansion may acutely compress the airway [94]. Some additional, rare neck masses that may compress the airway include plexiform neurofibromas, thyroglossal duct cysts, and lipoblastomas [95][96][97].…”

“…Some additional, rare neck masses that may compress the airway include plexiform neurofibromas, thyroglossal duct cysts, and lipoblastomas [ 95 , 96 , 97 ].…”