Submandibular lipoblastoma: Case report of a rare tumor in childhood

Abstract

Lipoblastoma is a rare, benign tumor usually occurring in childhood. It is essentially localized in the extremities and trunk, with few cases reported in the neck. We report the case of a 2-year-old girl with a rapidly enlarging, painless neck mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 3-cm mass in the right submandibular region. Review of literature, diagnostic methods, and genetics of lipomatous tumors are discussed. Complete surgical excision via a lateral cervical approach demonstrated a white soft tissue with an adherent ganglion. Histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of lipoblastoma. Cervical lipoblastoma is rare, and typically asymptomatic, rarely causing nerve compression or airway obstruction. MRI can help identifying the lipomatous nature of the mass, but the findings can be inconsistent due to variable maturity of fat cells and the mesenchymal content of the tumor. Diagnosis is always based on pathological examination. Further chromosomal analysis is useful in differentiating lipoblastoma from liposarcoma. Complete surgical excision is the recommended treatment.

Multivisceral resection of lipoblastoma of four anatomical areas of the head and neck with simultaneous neurotization of the facial muscles in an 8-months child. Clinical case

“…Липобластома, как правило, располагается поверхностно и имеет четкие границы, безболезненна при пальпации. Для липобластоматоза характерно диффузное распространение [7]. Резекция является основным методом лечения липобластомы.…”

Rapidly growing facial tumor in a 5-year-old girl

“…[ 1 2 3 ] They constitute from 4% to 6% of soft-tissue tumors in children, with a slight male predominance. [ 1 2 3 ] They arise from embryonic adipose tissue and are characterized by rapid growth, with symptoms depending on their location, and can cause deformity or compression of adjacent structures. [ 1 4 ]…”

“…They are commonly found in the trunk and extremities and are uncommon in the head and neck. [ 1 2 3 4 ] There are two clinical forms with similar histology: lipoblastoma, a localized, superficial, and encapsulated form accounting for 70% of the cases, and lipoblastomatosis, a diffuse, deep form, usually infiltrating adjacent muscle tissues. [ 1 2 3 ]…”

“…The differential diagnosis of these tumors can be complex, ranging from inflammatory lesions, infectious causes, traumatic injuries, and vascular or lymphatic malformations to other benign tumors such as lipomas or hibernomas and malignant tumors such as myxoid liposarcoma. [ 1 2 3 4 5 ] Suspected diagnosis should be based on clinical and radiological data, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is considered the test of choice as it provides high-quality images without radiation;[ 1 6 7 ] however, confirmatory diagnosis is always histological. [ 1 4 8 ] The most accepted management for these lesions is complete but nonmutilating excision, which has a very good long-term prognosis.…”

“…[ 1 4 8 ] The most accepted management for these lesions is complete but nonmutilating excision, which has a very good long-term prognosis. [ 3 4 5 6 ]…”