Lipoblastoma: An important differential diagnosis of tumours of the hand in children

Abstract

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign neoplasm of infancy and childhood with the potential for locally invasive, rapid growth. It has an excellent prognosis, and does not metastasise. An important differential diagnosis for these rapidly-enlarging tumours is liposarcoma. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, fine needle aspiration, and cytogenetics are important diagnostic tools for this rare tumour. We present two cases of lipoblastoma of the hand that were excised within a three month period with no evidence of recurrence at 14, and 12, months respectively.