Lipoblastomatosis Extended into the Lumbar Spinal Canal in a Child: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Lipoblastoma and lipoblastomatosis are rare benign mesenchymal adipose tumors that originate from embryonic white adipocytes and occur most commonly in infancy and early childhood. Lipoblastomas occur in the extremities and trunk, including the retroperitoneum and peritoneal cavity. Therefore, infiltration into the spinal canal has rarely been reported.

Case presentation: A 4-year-old girl presented to our clinic because of difficulty sitting on the floor with her legs straight. She also complained of enuresis and constipation for the past 6 months with persistent headaches and back pain evoked by body anteflexion. A magnetic resonance imaging revealed a massive lesion of the psoas major muscle, retroperitoneal, and subcutaneous spaces, extending into the spinal epidural space between L2 and S1. The patient underwent surgery which resulted in gross total removal of the tumor from the spinal canal. The mass was yellowish, soft, lobulated, fatty, and easily removed from the surrounding structures. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of lipoblastoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged without any signs of neurological deficit.

Conclusion: We herein discuss a rare case of lipoblastoma extending into the spinal canal, resulting in neurological symptoms. Although this tumor is benign with no potential for metastasis, it is prone to local recurrence. Therefore, close postoperative observation should be performed.

Keywords: Lipoblastoma; Lipoblastomatosis; Spinal canal.