A retropharyngeal lipoma causing obstructive sleep apnea in a child.
BACKGROUND
Lipomas are common benign tumors, but they rarely occur in the retropharyngeal space and even more rarely occur in children.


METHODS
We report the case of an 11-year-old girl with a 5-year history of progressively worsening nasal obstruction, snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Physical examination revealed a child with a body mass index of 16.9 kg/m2; otolaryngologic examination and imaging studies showed a large retropharyngeal mass. Polysomnography indicated an apnea-hypopnea index of 13.9 events per hour of sleep and a minimum oxygen saturation of 84%, with 20 episodes of desaturation to less than 90%. After complete excision of the mass, the patient's snoring, apnea, and daytime sleepiness resolved.


CONCLUSIONS
Although lipomas in the retropharyngeal space are rare, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of this condition occurring in children who have symptoms of obstructed breathing during sleep but a normal body mass index and no other risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea.
Gong
Weixi
W
The Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The General Hospital of the Air Force of PLA, Bejing, China. gwx58@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Entong
E
Zhang
Baolin
B
Da
Jiping
J
D002648:Child; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D010100:Oxygen