[Bilateral hamartoma of the chest wall]

Because its extreme rarity, a case of a bilateral chest wall hamartoma is reported in an 7 months infant presenting a moderate thoracic deformation. Roentgenogram reveals a segmentary costal destruction and an adjacent intrathoracic mass. A right thoracotomy is realized and the tumor is removed without difficulties. Diagnosis of a vasculo-cartilaginous hamartoma (other term used: mesenchymoma) is confirmed after the resection of the right lesion, whereas the left one is spontaneously reducing within 7 months. After analysis of 20 previously reported identical cases, we think that diagnosis may be done on clinico-radiological grounds; surgical decision has to take into account the constant benignity, the possible spontaneous regression and the orthopedic sequelae due to an extensive resection.