Lingual Leiomyomatous Hamartoma in an Adult Male

A Case of an Infantile Lingual Leiomyomatous Hamartoma

Lingual leiomyomatous hamartomas are rare lesions of the tongue with largely unknown mechanisms of formation. These lesions are often asymptomatic, though they may present with symptoms, particularly relating to swallow function. Workup should include imaging of the head and neck, and diagnosis should be made histologically. Treatment is surgical excision. This case is a report of a 4-week-old female who presented for evaluation of an asymptomatic 1 × 1 cm dorsal midline tongue mass discovered at birth. The patient was monitored until the age of 9 months, at which time the mass was surgically excised. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course. Pathological analysis yielded a diagnosis of leiomyomatous hamartoma.

Congenital smooth muscle hamartoma of the tongue in a neonate — a case report

Background

Hamartoma is a benign, tumor-like proliferation of mature tissue that is natural to the organ from which it developed. Oral hamartomas are rare and can occur as an isolated finding or as a part of a syndrome.

Case presentation

We report a 4-day-old male neonate who was postnatally noted to have a large 3.5 × 3.5 cm lobulated mass over the tip of the tongue. The mass was causing protrusion of the tongue and feeding difficulties following which surgical excision was planned. The postoperative recovery was uneventful.

Conclusion

Although rare, lingual hamartomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis algorithm for congenital tongue lesions. The definitive diagnosis is histopathological with complete resection of the tumor resulting in a favorable prognosis.