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Fibrous hamartoma of infancy: an experience of a single institute
Guhyun Kang1, Yeon-Lim Suh, Joungho Han
1Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Fibrous hamartoma of infancy is a benign tumor that presents as a distinctive fibrous growth. Early recognition and diagnosis are key to avoiding unnecessary aggressive treatment, as it typically resolves with local excision.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pathology
- Dermatopathology
- Soft Tissue Tumors
Background:
- Fibrous hamartoma of infancy (FH) is a rare, benign fibrous tumor.
- It typically presents at birth or in the early postnatal period.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial to prevent aggressive surgical or medical interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of fibrous hamartoma of infancy.
- To emphasize the importance of distinguishing FH from other fibromatous and malignant lesions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 9 cases of FH diagnosed between 1997 and 2010.
- Analysis of clinical presentation, gross pathology, and histological findings.
- Evaluation of patient outcomes with a median follow-up of 72 months.
Main Results:
- The study included 7 boys and 2 girls, with a mean age of 14.7 months at presentation.
- Common locations included the lower back, gluteal region, and scrotum.
- Histologically, FH showed a mixture of fibrocollagenous tissue, primitive mesenchymal cells, and mature fat, with no recurrences observed post-excision.
Conclusions:
- Fibrous hamartoma of infancy is a benign entity.
- It is characterized by a unique combination of histological features.
- Local excision is curative, and FH should not be confused with more aggressive tumors.
Purpose:
Fibrous hamartoma (FH) of infancy is a distinctive fibrous growth that most frequently occurs at birth and during the postnatal period. It is important for clinicians and pathologists to recognize this entity to avoid an aggressive approach.
Methods:
We herein describe the clinicopathologic features of 9 FHs diagnosed at a single institution between 1997 and 2010.
Results:
There were 7 boys and 2 girls, and the mean age of presentation was 14.7 months. The common locations were the lower back and gluteal region (n = 3) and scrotum (n = 2). They were solitary lesions, and measured 1.0 to 7.0 cm in maximum diameter (mean, 4.9 cm). The excised masses tended to be poorly circumscribed, and consisted of an intimate mixture of firm, gray-white tissue with fat. Histologically, these lesions were composed of 3 components forming a vague, irregular, organoid pattern: well-defined intersecting trabeculae of fibrocollagenous tissue; loosely textured areas of small, rounded, primitive mesenchymal cells; and mature fat. Over a median follow-up of 72 months, no patient showed recurrence.
Conclusion:
FH should be distinguished from other forms of fibromatosis and malignant tumors because it is benign and usually cured by local excision.
