Hamartoma of the soft palate: Case report and review of literature

TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of hamartoma in a newborn's soft palate and discusses its diagnosis and successful surgical treatment.

Contribution

The paper contributes a new clinical case report of a rare soft palate hamartoma in a newborn, adding to the limited existing literature.

Findings

Hamartoma of the soft palate is rare and can cause serious complications due to its location.

Surgical removal via a transoral approach leads to excellent prognosis with no recurrence.

Diagnosis relies on histopathology, with imaging used to assess lesion extent.

Abstract

Hamartoma is a tumor-like malformation that represents a focal proliferation of normal cells. Hamartoma of the soft palate is a rare entity, which can lead to serious, life-threatening clinical manifestations, given its anatomical location. However, if properly treated surgically, their prognosis is excellent.

The literature reports very few similar cases. So, we report a case of hamartoma of the soft palate, which presented as a sessile velar outgrowth arising on the midline of a 12-day-old newborn. The final diagnosis was based on histopathology. The patient was treated surgically and had excellent evolution.

Clinical Discussion.

Clinical examination shows hamartomas of the palate to be polyploid lesions, with a firm surface. A CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are indicated to establish the extent of the tumor. The diagnosis of certainty is determined by a histopathological examination. The only treatment is surgery, generally via the transoral approach. Prognosis is excellent.

Hamartomas of the palate are diagnosed histologically, with imaging being of great help in assessing extension, and their therapeutic management is exclusively surgical.

The prognosis after successful surgery is practically always good, with no recurrence.

•Hamartoma is a tumor-like malformation, comprising a disorganized combination of mature tissues gradually increasing in volume.•Hamartomas of the soft palate remain a rare entity, whose anatomical location may lead to clinically serious complications.•The palate hamartoma is clinically described as a polyploid lesion.•CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging are indicated to determine the extent of the lesion. The diagnosis of certainty is determined by histopathological examination.•Surgery, usually transoral, is the only treatment available. Its prognosis is excellent.

Hamartoma is a tumor-like malformation, comprising a disorganized combination of mature tissues gradually increasing in volume.

Hamartomas of the soft palate remain a rare entity, whose anatomical location may lead to clinically serious complications.

The palate hamartoma is clinically described as a polyploid lesion.

CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging are indicated to determine the extent of the lesion. The diagnosis of certainty is determined by histopathological examination.

Surgery, usually transoral, is the only treatment available. Its prognosis is excellent.

Figures