Lipoblast Mimics

Some benign lipomatous tumors/lesions as well as non-lipomatous malignant neoplasms have cells that can mimic lipoblasts. Examples include: foamy macrophages in fat necrosis, hibernoma cells, histiocytes in silicone reaction, any cell with intracytoplasmic mucin, fixation artifact, signet-ring adenocarcinomas, and signet-ring melanoma. Several examples are shown in this composite image. It is important to pay close attention to the histologic background in which these lipoblast-like cells are present.