[Respiratory epitheloid adenomatoid hamartoma of the nasal cavity--case report and review of the literature].

BACKGROUND: Hamartomas are tumour-like malformations, resulting from excessive proliferation of otherwise normal local tissue components. Hamartomas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are relatively rare, especially respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas. This benign lesion is characterized by a glandular proliferation originating from the surface of the respiratory epithelium. In the German speaking literature this entity has not been described before. PATIENT AND
RESULTS: We report the case of a 51-year-old white female, presenting with a respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma of her left nasal cavity. The patient suffered from nasal obstruction. The CT scan showed a soft tissue like lesion obstructing the patient's left choana. After local resection of the tumour, which originated from the superior turbinate through functional endoscopic sinus surgery the patient's symptoms were gone. Follow-up after six months showed no evidence of recurrence.
CONCLUSION: The histopathological differential diagnosis of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas includes inverted papilloma and adenocarcinoma. Therefore the histological recognition of these hamartomas impacts on therapy. Misinterpretation as a true neoplasm may result in unnecessarily radical surgery. Local surgical resection is the treatment of choice for this lesion.