Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartoma Originating from Nasal Septum
A 50-year-old woman presented with left nasal obstruction for 3 years and had no other associated sinonasal symptoms. The patient denied any past history including chronic rhinosinusitis, alleric rhinitis, and sinonasal operation. Examination with a nasal endoscope revealed a smooth, mucosa-covered, and polypoid mass on the posterior aspect of nasal septum in the left nasal cavity; the mass originated from the posterior part of the septum (). The mass extended to the right side through the nasopharynx (). Computed tomography (CT) coronal view scans of paranasal sinuses revealed a left nasopharyngeal mass (). Axial view CT revealed that the mass was attached to the posterior aspect of the nasal septum (). A pre-operative punch biopsy of the mass suggested the diagnosis of REAH. Under general anesthesia, intranasal endoscopic excision was performed. The excised specimen measured 23 mm×16 mm×13 mm. On histological analysis, the surface of the lesion was found to comprise pseudostratified, ciliated, columnar epithelium and was composed of proliferated glands lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium. No atypical cells were seen and there was no evidence of metaplasia (). The pathologic finding was consistent with REAH. The patient tolerated the operation well and there were no complications during the postoperative period. At 1-year follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence.