Hibernoma: a report of 2 unusual cases with a review of the literature

Hibernomas are rare neoplasms composed of brown adipose tissue. The behavior of these neoplasms has been described as uniformly benign in humans. The only recurrence cited in the English literature involved a sarcoma with hibernoma-like features, which was reported in abstract form. We present 2 cases of hibernoma, one that continued to grow following partial excision and another at an unusual site (anterior abdominal wall). Both of these tumors overexpressed p53 protein by immunohistochemistry, which was a novel finding. A review of the literature highlights recent advances that may help confirm the diagnosis and explain the biology of these rare tumors.