Hibernoma: a rare case of adipocytic tumor in head and neck.

Abstract

BackgroundHibernoma is a rare soft tissue tumor stem from persistent fetal brown fat tissue. This benign tumor may occasionally occur in head and neck area and, in most cases, is characterized by an asymptomatic slow growth.Case presentationWe presented an uncommon case of hibernoma of the posterior cervical triangle occurring in a 30-year-old man referred to the department of otolaryngology. The patient suffered from a right, very painful, and rapidly growing mass since 3 months. MRI examination reported both an infiltrating mass and a homogenous enhancement of an underlying vascularization after the injection of intravenous contrast. According to the risk of sarcoma, a surgical procedure was made to completely excise the mass that was a hibernoma.ConclusionsHibernoma may occur with an uncommon clinical presentation imitating malignancy. MRI plays a key role in the differential diagnosis and surgery remains the better therapeutic approach.

An Enlarging Right Neck Mass in a 25-Year-Old Woman

“…Hibernomas mainly occur in adults between the ages of 20 to 40 years, but they can be encountered in a wide age range (2-75 years) . Hibernomas may be misdiagnosed as lipomas.…”

“…4 Hibernomas mainly occur in adults between the ages of 20 to 40 years, but they can be encountered in a wide age range (2-75 years). 5,6 Hibernomas may be misdiagnosed as lipomas. Approximately 100 cases have been reported in the literature, with the affected locations in the body being predominantly in the subcutaneous regions of the axilla, paravertebrally in the back, mediastinum, and shoulders, areas known to harbor vestigial fetal fat.…”

“…Positron emission tomography scans may be helpful in distinguishing a hiber-noma from a lipoma, but it is not helpful in differentiating a hibernoma from other malignant entities. 6 On microscopic examination, hibernomas display a lobulated pattern composed of uniform, round, granular, eosinophilic cells to multivacuolated cells with centrally placed nuclei. Intermixed univacuolar cellsandperipherallyplacednucleiresemblingadipocytesarealsoseen.…”

Bir Kedide Abdominal Hibernoma: Olgu Sunumu

“…Hibernoma is an uncommon, benign soft tissue tumor, and so far has been reported in human beings [5][6][7] , rats [8,9] and dogs [10][11][12][13] . Hibernoma is thought to have derived from residual brown fat tissues which are most frequently found in the periscapular and interscapular region, the neck, axilla and shoulder, thorax, retroperitoneum and less frequently in thigh, popliteal fossa, buttock, intracranial sites [1] and breast [14] .…”

Hibernoma of the eyelid

“…[ 1 ] The treatment can be accomplished through complete or incomplete surgical excision. [ 1 3 ] However, incomplete surgical excision can leave a potential for recurrence. [ 1 ]…”