PEDIATRICS Vol. 105 No. 1 January 2000, pp. 123-128

EXPERIENCE AND REASON:
Forehead Lipoblastoma Mimicking a Hemangioma

Received Feb 8, 1999; accepted Jun 8, 1999.

Clifford S. Perlis^*, Margaret H. Collins, Paul J. Honig^§, and David W. Low^¶

^* University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine  Department of Pathology ^§ Division of General Pediatrics-Dermatology Section ^¶ Division of Plastic Surgery Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA 19104

A case of forehead lipoblastoma simulating a hemangioma in a male infant is reported, to alert pediatricians to this rare tumor and to increase the index of suspicion in atypical hemangiomas.

A 2-month-old male infant developed a protruding forehead mass with increased vascularity. It demonstrated progressive and accelerated growth over the subsequent 6 months, unresponsive to steroid therapy. A magnetic resonance imaging scan supported the diagnosis of hemangioma because of the hypervascular nature of the lesion. Surgical excision was performed because of visual obstruction. Pathologic examination of the specimen was consistent with a very primitive lipoblastoma.

This tumor is a rare, benign lesion of immature fat cells that is found almost exclusively in the pediatric population. Lipoblastomas are more common in males than females and frequently present as asymptomatic, rapidly enlarging, soft lobular masses on the extremities. Complete surgical excision is the definitive treatment. In the vast majority of reported cases, however, the preoperative diagnosis was incorrect, underscoring the diagnostic dilemma presented by these rare tumors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Steckman, B. Zide, M. A. Greco, R. Rivera, and F. Blei Lipoblastoma of Infancy Mimicking Hemangioma of Infancy Arch Facial Plast Surg, September 1, 2005; 7(5): 326 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Lipoblastoma Mimicking an Infantile Hemangioma Journal Watch Dermatology, March 1, 2000; 2000(301): 4 - 4. [Full Text]