RESUMO
Abstract Objectives: To highlight the prevalence of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas in the olfactory cleft of patients with nasal polyposis. To demonstrate characteristics indicative of hamartoma on the CT scans of paranasal sinuses during surgery and in histopathological exams. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG and Núcleo de Otorrino BH. We performed 114 nasal endoscopic surgeries for polyposis, between February 2015 and November 2019. We assessed the olfactory cleft width in all preoperative CT scans. Upon seeing an indication of hamartoma on the CT scan, we took a tissue sample from the olfactory cleft during the surgery and sent for histopathological exam. We referred the samples to a pathologist experienced in the anatomopathological diagnosis of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas. Results: Of the 114 patients with polyposis, 54 (47.4%) had olfactory cleft enlargement and, 100% of them had tissue with a dense and hardened polypoid aspect, with a slight cerebri-form appearance in this region during the surgery. Histology confirmed a respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma. Conclusion: This observation suggests that the presence of hamartomas in polyposis is common, but underdiagnosed. Level of evidence: Step 3 (Level 3).
RESUMO
Hamartomas are non-neoplastic malformations or congenital errors of tissue development. Hamartoma is composed by an excessive growth of mature tissue present in wrong proportions and abnormal arrangements. The lesion usually presents as a submucosal mass with ill-defined margins. Hamartoma occurs in all areas of the body, especially in the liver, spleen, kidney and lung. However, hamartoma is very rare in the head and neck. Presenting symptoms of hamartoma are typically vague and nonspecific. Treatment of hamartomas consists of adequate surgical excision. We present a 59 year-old male patient who presented with submental swelling. Malignancy could not be ruled out with preoperative radiologic examination, so surgical excision was planned. The mass was excised with transcervical approach. Histopathologic examination has confirmed the mass as a mucinous gland adenomatoid hamartoma.