A case of congenital infiltrating lipomatosis of the face with the early eruption of permanent teeth with a review of the English literature

Abstract

Congenital infiltrating lipomatosis of the face (CILF) is a benign non-epithelial tumor that was initially reported in 1983. Although lipomas are generally encased in fibrous tissue, CILF lacks a fibrous capsule and is characterized by intramuscular invasion. We herein report a case of CILF diagnosed based on the early eruption of permanent teeth and reviewed the English literature. The patient was a 5-year-old male with diffuse swelling of the left upper canine gingiva. He had undergone surgery at 3 years old to debulk left buccal lipoma. At presentation, facial asymmetry and diffuse swelling of the left cheek were noted. Radiographic examinations revealed the early eruption of and accelerated root formation by the left upper permanent teeth, bony hyperplasia of the left maxilla and zygomatic bone, and adipose hyperplasia of the left cheek region. Hormone examinations revealed no abnormalities. A histopathological specimen obtained from surgery to reduce buccal lipoma was re-evaluated and diagnosed as infiltrative lipoma. Based on histopathological and clinical features, the patient was diagnosed with congenial infiltrative lipoma was established. Conservative therapy was performed in consideration of future surgical interventions after adolescence.