[Clinicopathologic features of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma of bilateral olfactory clefts].

OBJECTIVE

To describe five rare cases of bilateral olfactory clefts respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH), and investigate the clinicopathologic features in REAH.

METHODS

Five cases with REAH were reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed. All the cases were confirmed by pathology.

RESULTS

The chief complaint in 4 cases when visited was nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, with or without hyposmia and headache. Another was discomfortable of head-facial region, sometimes with pus discharge and blood in nasal discharge. Polypoid neoplasms can be seen in nasal meatus of the 5 cases. Endoscopic sinus surgery was utilized to eliminate foci in 5 cases. All REAH foci located in bilateral olfactory clefts areas, four of which appeared polypoid changes,one appeared obvious inflammatory edema. All of them presented as wide-based lesion with tenacious quality compared to polyps. Histologically, these lesions were characterized by a glandular proliferation lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium originated from the surface epithelium, and the glands surround into round or oval, with various sizes and separated by stromal tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to continue developing after operation, if REAH is not completely resected. Complete resection of lesions is the key to treatment success for this entity in endoscopic sinus surgery. Although REAH arising from the rhino sinusal region is very rare, rhinolaryngologists must know this entity in order to differentiate it from inverted papilloma and adenocarcinoma.