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INTRODUCTION: Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor arising from embryonic white fat which occurs in the early childhood. It usually arises on the extremities and considered as a rare cause of a pediatric head and neck masses. The aim of this study is to shed light on lipoblastomas as a differential diagnosis of rapidly growing soft fatty masses of children in neck and head area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 3 patients with lipoblastoma, underwent Surgical resection (case 1 and 2) by cervical approach. The third patient with a facial lipoblastoma was not operated due to the high risk of facial paralysis. Review of literature, diagnostic methods and genetics of lipomatous tumors are discussed. RESULTS: Complete surgical excision via a cervical approach demonstrated irregular lobules of immature fat cells separated by a loose, myxoid connective tissue. Histology analysis confirmed the diagnosis of lipoblastoma. DISCUSSION: Lipoblastoma is a rare childhood tumor, even rarer in head and neck area. The pathogenesis is unknown, though it is believed to arise from altered embryogenesis of human white fat and genetic predisposition, as chromosome 8 abnormalities may be implicated in the development of lipoblastoma. The presumptive diagnosis is performed by imaging. The most important differential diagnosis of lipoblastoma is myxoid liposarcoma. The mainstay of treatment is complete non-mutilating resection of the tumor to avoid recurrence. CONCLUSION: Lipoblastoma should be suspected in case of heterogeneous fatty tumor in head and neck area, and included as a differential diagnosis of cervical masses in children younger than 3 years. The mainstay of treatment is complete surgical excision with a good prognosis.
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Head and neck paragangliomas are rare vascular tumors derived from the paraganglionic system, located at the carotid body, jugular vein, tympanic cavity and vagal nerve. From 2010 to 2020, a cohort of 26 patients divided in two groups, 15 with cervical paragangliomas and 11 with temporal bone paragangliomas, was reviewed by analysing the medical history, the epidemiological and clinical parameters, the imaging results and classification, the modality of treatment and outcome. Cervical paragangliomas present as firm and pulsatile mass with the characteristic aspect of "salt and pepper" on MRI T1 weighted sequences. The most common type on Shamblin classification was the type II. Total surgical resection was performed in 93,33% of cases. The sensitivity of MRI in the diagnosis of vagal paragangliomas was up to 75%, with a specificity of 90,91% and the correlation of the MRI results and the findings of surgical exploration is significant with p ⩽ 0.02. Temporal bone paragangliomas appear as pulsatile mass behind the tympanic membrane, causing variable hearing loss in 90,90% of the cases. The facial nerve is the most frequently affected cranial nerve, in 36,36% of the cases. The main type according to FISH classification is the type B. Embolization was performed in all type C tumors. Surgery was the first line treatment while the inoperable patients were considered for radiotherapy. The aim of this study is to report the main clinical features of head and neck paragangliomas, the imaging tools and findings evaluating their sensitivity and specificity and the treatment protocol and outcome.
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Esophageal perforation following an impacted foreign body (FB) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. Early clinical suspicion and imaging are important for a targeted management to achieve a good outcome. Endoscopic extraction of esophageal FB is a good and safe treatment alternative while the surgical procedure remains a necessary option for many patients. We present the case of a 50 years old woman, with no relevant medical history, who accidently ingested a chicken bone during a meal causing mild dysphagia. The patient consulted immediately but was reassured after normal clinical examination. We received the patient 9 days later with severe dysphagia and cervicomediastinal cellulitis. The cervical CT scan showed the significant collection and the FB impacted in the cervical esophagus wall. A first endoscopic exploration drained the pus and allowed the placement of a nasogastric tube. However, the removal of the FB required an open cervical surgery with the evacuation of the collection and the suture of the esophageal perforation followed by the placement of a drainage tube. The patient medical state improved rapidly and no further incidents were noted. The diagnosis of esophageal FB should be meticulous in order to avoid such life-threatening complications.