Rapidly growing intramuscular lipoma: a unique entity of benign lipomas in children

BMJ Case Rep. 2024 Feb 27;17(2):e253408. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-253408.

Abstract

This report presents a case of an intramuscular lipoma observed in the left back of a healthy female toddler. It was resected after 3 months of observation because of rapid enlargement, raising suspicion of malignancy. Histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of intramuscular lipoma without malignant and blastemal components. Intramuscular lipomas are benign neoplasms that mostly appear as a rapidly growing tumour. Several hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of this characteristic growth pattern have been proposed, including atrophy of the surrounding muscle, reactive adipocytic neoformation and multiple contractive interactions between the lipoma and the surrounding muscle.

Keywords: Paediatric Surgery; Paediatric oncology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lipoma* / surgery
  • Muscle Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscle Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Muscles