Hibernoma—correlation of histopathology and magnetic-resonance-imaging features in 10 cases

Hibernoma is an uncommon, slow-growing, benign soft-tissue tumour resembling brown adipose tissue. The histological appearances are well-documented, but there are relatively few descriptions of the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features. We report a retrospective comparison of the histological and MR appearances of ten hibernomas of the extremities, classified histologically into lipoma-like [<70% multivacuolated adipocytes (MVAs)] and non-lipoma-like hibernomas (>70% MVAs).

The lipoma-like hibernomas measured 4–27 cm in maximum size. All were well-defined on MR imaging and histology except for one subcutaneous lesion that blended in with surrounding fat histologically. All lesions were isointense with subcutaneous fat on T1- and T2-weighting apart from one lesion that was predominantly slightly hypointense on T1-weighting and predominantly slightly hyperintense on T2-weighting and STIR. Two slightly inhomogeneous lesions contained thin (<5 mm thickness) tortuous vessels. One patient received intravenous contrast, but the lesion did not enhance. The six non-lipoma-like hibernomas measured 2.5–15.5 cm in maximum size and all were unencapsulated. Three were well-defined and three partly ill-defined on MR imaging. There were no significant differences in the MR characteristics of the non-lipoma-like variants. On T1-weighting, the non-lipoma-like hibernomas that contained >90% MVAs were predominantly slightly hypointense to subcutaneous fat. One lesion was isointense with subcutaneous fat, but this lesion only contained from 80–90% MVAs. All non-lipoma-like lesions were slightly hyperintense on STIR but so too were two of the four lipoma-like lesions. Four of the six non-lipoma-like lesions showed marked or moderate inhomogeneity due to thick septa and prominent vessels. Of the two cases that received intravenous contrast, both showed enhancement corresponding to regions of >90% MVAs or prominent vessels within fibrous septa.

MR imaging has shown some distinguishing features between lipoma-like and non-lipoma-like hibernomas. Lipoma-like hibernomas are usually isointense with subcutaneous fat on T1-weighting, are either homogeneous or slightly inhomogeneous and may contain thin tortuous vascular structures. Non-lipoma-like hibernomas are pre-dominantly slightly hypointense to subcutaneous fat on T1-weighting, often display marked or moderate inhomogeneity with prominent septa and vessels and enhancement is typical. The appearances of non-lipoma-like hibernomas are not diagnostic and may be mimicked by lipoma variants and by well-differentiated liposarcoma or atypical lipoma.