A Rare Case of Hypopharyngeal Hamartoma Causing Acute Airway Obstruction

A hamartoma is a benign tumor of tissue resembling the site of origin, despite exhibiting disorganized architecture. While benign, symptoms typically arise from mass effects. They are often found in the lower gastrointestinal tract and are a rare finding in the pharynx and larynx. Here we present a rare case of hamartoma of the hypopharynx in an 87-year-old male, which was dislodged and regurgitated during an episode of coughing, which resulted in syncope and airway obstruction. His wife was able to restore airway function by rolling the patient on his side until the ambulance arrived. The patient underwent microlaryngeal excision of the dislodged mass, and analysis of frozen sections showed hamartoma with no potential of malignancy. The patient's recovery was uncomplicated, and there has been no evidence of recurrence noted two years post-operatively.