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Caught on camera: hairy polyp of the posterior tonsillar pillar

S Seng1, S M Kieran, S O Vargas

  • 1Imperial College School of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, UK. steven.seng@doctors.org.uk

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|February 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

A rare congenital hairy polyp was successfully removed from a four-month-old infant presenting with feeding and breathing issues. This case highlights the diagnostic utility of patient-recorded smartphone videos in identifying rare head and neck masses.

Area of Science:

  • Congenital malformations
  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric surgery

Background:

  • Hairy polyps are rare congenital growths originating from two germ cell layers (ectoderm and mesoderm).
  • These growths typically occur in the head and neck region, primarily the nasopharynx and oropharynx.

Observation:

  • A four-month-old infant presented with significant breathing and feeding difficulties.
  • A smartphone video captured by the mother revealed a mass protruding from the infant's mouth, aiding diagnosis.
  • Laryngoscopy identified the mass originating from the left posterior tonsillar pillar.

Findings:

  • Surgical transoral removal of the mass was performed without complications.
  • Pathological examination confirmed the mass as a skin-covered pedunculated hairy polyp.
  • The infant experienced an unremarkable recovery and follow-up.

Implications:

  • This report details a rare instance of a hairy polyp originating from the tonsillar pillar.
  • It underscores the increasing role of patient-generated media, such as smartphone videos, in clinical diagnosis and management.
  • Highlights the importance of considering rare congenital anomalies in infants with respiratory and feeding problems.
Abstract

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