Case Report

Predominant Cartilaginous Hamartoma: An Unusual Variant of Chondromatous Hamartoma

Authors: Gilbert Seda, MD, PhD, Dennis Amundson, DO, MS, FCCP, Mercury Y. Lin, MD

Abstract

Chondromatous hamartomas are the most common benign lung tumors and the third most common pulmonary nodule. Histologically, they are characteristically composed of hyaline cartilage mixed with fibromyxoid stroma and adipose tissue surrounded by epithelial cells. We report the case of a healthy, 60-year-old woman with an incidentally discovered chondromatous hamartoma that was thorascopically excised. Her pulmonary hamartoma was predominantly cartilaginous, which only occurs in 1% of hamartomas.


Key Points


* Chondromatous hamartomas are the most common benign lung tumors and third most common pulmonary nodule.


* The characteristic popcorn pattern of calcification associated with chondromatous hamartomas is only detectable in 10–15% of cases on plain radiographs.


* Predominantly cartilaginous pulmonary hamartomas compose 1% of tissue specimens and are male predominant.


* Computed tomography features include a solitary, well-circumcised nodule less than 4 cm in diameter with focal areas of low attenuation due to fat deposits in the tumor.


* A diagnosis can be established by transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy, bronchoscopic transbronchial biopsy, or surgical resection, and pulmonary hamartomas can be managed conservatively with observation unless complications occur.

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