Giant cervical lipoblastoma in infant: a rare case report

Introduction and importance: Lipoblastomas are benign mesenchymal tumors derived from embryonal white fat, primarily affecting children under 3 years of age. While typically located in the extremities and trunk, cervical lipoblastomas are exceedingly rare and may pose diagnostic and surgical challenges due to the proximity of vital structures. Case presentation: We report a case of a 13-month-old male with an 8-month history of a progressively enlarging, painless mass in the right anterolateral neck. There were no signs of mass effect. Neck CT scan revealed a large fat-density lesion with multiple internal septations, displacing carotid vessels posteromedially and abutting the right subclavian artery. Surgical excision was performed, and histopathology confirmed a lipoblastoma. The patient recovered well and remained recurrence-free at 6-month follow-up. Clinical discussion: Cervical lipoblastomas can grow to significant sizes before diagnosis due to their indolent nature. Imaging studies often show a well-circumscribed, lobulated, fat-containing mass with septations. Differential diagnoses include lipoma, teratoma, neuroblastoma, liposarcoma, and lymphangioma. Histopathology is important in confirming the diagnosis. Complete surgical excision remains the treatment of choice, and recurrence is rare following total resection. Conclusion: Cervical lipoblastomas are rare but should be considered in pediatric patients with large, slowly growing neck masses. Timely diagnosis and complete excision are essential to prevent complications and ensure favorable outcomes.