hibernoma hibernoma a hibernoma is a benign neoplasm of vestigial brown fat. the term was originally used by the french anatomist louis gery in 1914. hibernomamicrograph of a hibernoma. h&e stain.specialtyoncology signs and symptoms patients present with a slow-growing, painless, solitary mass, usually of the subcutaneous tissues. it is much less frequently noted in the intramuscular tissue. it is not uncommon for symptoms to be present for years. benign neoplasm with brown fat is noted. diagnosis imaging findings in general, imaging studies show a well-defined, heterogeneous mass, usually showing a mass which is hypointense to subcutaneous fat on magnetic resonance t1-weight images. serpentine, thin, low signal bands (septations or vessels) are often seen throughout the tumor. pathology findings from a macroscopic perspective, there is a well-defined, encapsulated or circumscribed mass, showing a soft, yellow tan to deep brown mass. the size ranges from 1 to 27 cm, although the mean is about 10 cm. a high power hematoxylin and eosin stained photograph of a hibernoma. the tumors histologically resemble brown fat. there are four histologic types recognized, but one is the most frequently seen (typical). there is a background of rich vascularity. lobular type: variable degrees of differentiation of uniform, round to oval cells with granular eosinophilic cells with prominent borders, alternating with coarsely multivacuolated fat cells (pale cells). there are usually small centrally placed nuclei without pleomorphism. the cells have large cytoplasmic lipid droplets interspersed throughout. myxoid variant: loose, basophilic matrix, with thick fibrous septa, and foamy histiocytes lipoma-like variant: univacuolated lipocytes, with only isolated hibernoma cells spindle cell variant: spindle cell lipoma combined with hibernoma histochemistry oil red o-positive droplets of cytoplasmic lipid can be seen in most cases immunohistochemistry the neoplastic cells are s100 protein positive (approximately 80%), and show membrane and vacuole cd31 immunoreactivity. uncoupling protein 1 (ucp1), a unique brown fat mitochondrial protein, is also positive. cytogenetics there are structural rearrangements of 11q13-21, which are considered most characteristic. this alteration can be detected by metaphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (fish). men1 gene (11q13.1) is most frequently deleted, while garp gene (11q13.5) may also be involved. cytology the fine needle aspiration smears show small, round, brown fat-like cells, with uniform, small cytoplasmic vacuoles and regular, small, round nuclei. there is usually a rich vascular background of branching capillaries. it is not uncommon to also have mature fat cells. differential diagnoses it is important to separate hiberoma from adult rhabdomyoma, a granular cell tumor and a true liposarcoma. classification this lesion has been called a fetal lipoma, lipoma of embryonic fat or a lipoma of immature fat. management complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice, associated with an excellent long term clinical outcome. epidemiology the tumor is rare, affecting adults in the 4th decade most commonly. patients are usually younger than those who present with a lipoma. there is a slight male predominance. hibernoma are most commonly identified in the subcutaneous and muscle tissue of the head and neck region (shoulders, neck, scapular), followed by thigh, back, chest, abdomen, and arms. in rare cases hibernoma may arise in bone tissue, however it is an incidental finding. additional images hibernoma (intermediate magnification).