Lipoblastoma and liposarcoma in children: an analysis of 9 cases and a review of the literature

Abstract

Objectives: To review the experience at a children's hospital of lipoblastoma and liposarcoma and to identify any factors that would differentiate one type of tumour from the other.

Design: A retrospective case series.

Setting: British Columbia's Children's Hospital a tertiary-care pediatric centre.

Patients: All patients with a pathological diagnosis of lipoblastoma and liposarcoma recorded over 12 years.

Main outcome measures: The frequency of lipoblastoma and liposarcoma, identified from biopsy specimens of pediatric adipose tumours. The clinical, pathological and cytogenetic variables between lipoblastoma and liposarcoma.

Results: One hundred and forty-nine adipose tumours were recorded. Seven (4.7%) were lipoblastomas and 2 (1.3%) were liposarcomas. All tumours presented as asymptomatic, slow-growing, soft-tissue masses. The children with lipoblastoma tended to be younger, but 29% were over 3 years of age. The liposarcoma patients were aged 9 and 14 years. One liposarcoma was of myxoid type and the other was a round cell variant. Karyotypes were reported for 1 lipoblastoma and 1 liposarcoma. The myxoid liposarcoma karyotype was 46,XY,t(12;16)(q13;p11), and the lipoblastoma was reported as 46,XY,der(8)?t(8q;?),+mar.

Conclusions: Lipoblastoma is an unusual childhood neoplasm and liposarcoma is very rare in children. Both tumours may present in a similar fashion, and differentiating them histologically can be difficult. Age cannot be relied upon to accurately predict their behaviour. The tumour karyotype is very helpful in differentiating these neoplasms.