title: Surgical management of lipoblastoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipoblastoma/lipoblastomatosis, a rare benign pediatric tumor composed of embryonic fat, most often presents as a rapidly growing mass in children younger than 3 years. This benign tumor locally recurs up to 25% of the time. This retrospective review was done to emphasize problems with diagnosis, management, and the approach to follow-up care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen cases of pathologically proven lipoblastoma presenting to a single institution over a 16-year period (1988-2004) were reviewed retrospectively for clinical features and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 11 males and 5 females ranging in age from 18 days to 12.75 years. Preoperative diagnoses were accurate in only 3 cases. Two lesions recurred locally over a period of 10 months and 5 years. One lesion presented with local infiltration. Six lesions were right-sided, 5 were left-sided, and 5 were midline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to consider lipoblastoma in the diagnosis of a rapidly enlarging fatty mass in children. Complete resection is the only definitive treatment and should not be delayed when impingement on surrounding structures is imminent. There is a tendency for these lesions to recur despite presumed complete excision. Therefore, follow-up for a minimum of 5 years is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, USA.
authors.forename: Marcene R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McVay
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local