A Case of Giant Omental Lipoblastoma in a Child

Abstract

We herein report a case of giant omental lipoblastoma in an infant. The patient, who had been seen by a previous physician, was a girl aged 2 years and 3 months with abdominal distention. Upon palpation, an elastic soft mass was palpable throughout the abdomen. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT revealed a tumor-like lesion rich in fatty components occupying the abdominal cavity, and MRI examination showed the tumor in contact with the pancreas, right kidney, and right psoas muscle, displacing the stomach cranially and the intestines to the left, with smooth margins and no apparent infiltration into surrounding tissues. Omental lipoma or liposarcoma originating from the greater omentum was suspected, and complete excision was performed via laparotomy. The tumor was identified as a greater omental lipomatous tumor extending from the mesocolon to the right half of the greater omentum, with branches of the right gastroepiploic artery serving as its nutrient vessels. Following pathological examination, it was diagnosed as a lipoblastoma. Although lipoblastomas arising in the abdominal and retroperitoneal regions are said to account for approximately 5% of cases, those occurring in the greater omentum are extremely rare. Preoperative differentiation from liposarcoma is difficult, and complete excision is generally required. Cases of recurrence following incomplete excision have been reported, emphasizing the importance of postoperative follow-up.