title: Lipoblastoma: pathophysiology and surgical management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipoblastoma/lipoblastomatosis is a poorly understood and uncommon soft tissue tumor of infancy and early childhood. Twenty-four patients that presented to a single institution over a 15-year period were reviewed for clinical features and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five cases were identified; 1 chart was not available for review. Fourteen girls and 11 boys with a median age of 20 months (2 months, 10 years) presented with 26 separate tumors. Nineteen were focal and 7 diffuse. The tumors were located on the trunk (n = 13), leg (n = 6), arm (n = 3), and head and neck (n = 4). Five patients (all with diffuse type) had up to 3 recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with focal lipoblastoma are unlikely to require further surgery after initial resection. Patients with diffuse lipoblastoma (lipoblastomatosis) are likely to have recurrent disease (usually within 2 years) and should undergo close follow-up. Genetic analysis of the specimen will help exclude liposarcoma. Recurrent lesions are best imaged with magnetic resonance imaging to assess extent and plan reconstruction if necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Dilley
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brandt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008067:Lipoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008068:Lipomatosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome