J Rhinol.  2024 Jul;31(2):124-128. 10.18787/jr.2024.00018.

Hamartomatous Polyp of the Palatine Tonsil in an Adolescent: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 2Mucosal Immunology Institute, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Abstract

A hamartoma is a benign tumor that arises from the disorganized proliferation of tissue and can occur anywhere in the body. Hamartomas are notably found in the lung, skin, heart, brain, and breast, while their occurrence in the head and neck is rare. We describe a case involving a 17-year-old male patient who presented with a mass in a unilateral palatine tonsil, discovered incidentally. The patient was treated with tonsillectomy and, after pathological review, was diagnosed with a hamartomatous polyp of the palatine tonsil. Our case report highlights this rare benign neoplasm and presents a review of the literature.

Keyword

Hamartoma; Hamartomatous polyp; Tonsil; Adolescent

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Approximately 3-cm pedunculated polypoid lesion extending from a crypt of the left palatine tonsil.

  • Fig. 2. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan. A and B: Axial view. C: Sagittal view. D: Coronal view. A small well-defined protruding low-density lesion, arising from the left tonsil in each view is indicated by white arrowheads.

  • Fig. 3. Gross pathology of the tumor, which measured 3.7 cm×1.2 cm and extended outward from the crypt of the palatine tonsil. There were no abnormal findings on the resected surface of the palatine tonsil.

  • Fig. 4. Microscopic examination of the tumor shows that the majority of stroma were filled with fibrous tissue and adipose tissue (black arrowheads in C) covered with stratified squamous epithelium. In some areas, dilatation of the lymphatics and lymphocytic infiltration (black arrows in B) were found (H&E staining). A: ×10 magnification. B: ×30 magnification. C: ×50 magnification.


Reference

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