Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:06:47.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Caught on camera: hairy polyp of the posterior tonsillar pillar

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2013

S Seng ,
S M Kieran ,
S O Vargas  and
T J Mcgill
S Seng*
Affiliation:
Imperial College School of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, UK
S M Kieran
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital Boston, USA
S O Vargas
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital Boston, USA
T J Mcgill
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital Boston, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Mr S Seng, Imperial College School of Medicine, Reynolds Building, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Rd, London W6 8RF, UK E-mail: steven.seng@doctors.org.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Hairy polyps are rare congenital growths of the head and neck, mainly found in the nasopharynx and oropharynx. They are made up of two germ cell layers: the ectoderm and mesoderm.

Methods:

This paper reports a four-month-old who presented with breathing and feeding difficulties. Clinical examination was unremarkable, but a video taken by the patient's mother on her smartphone showed a mass protruding from the infant's mouth. Laryngoscopy performed in the operating theatre showed that the mass emanated from the left posterior tonsillar pillar.

Results:

The mass was removed transorally with no complications. Pathological examination showed a skin-covered pedunculated structure characteristic of a hairy polyp. The patient's follow up was unremarkable.

Conclusion:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the second English-language case report of a patient with a hairy polyp emanating from a posterior tonsillar pillar. This paper also highlights the growing usage of smartphones by patients to help physicians with their diagnosis and management.

Keywords

InfantPolypsOropharynxDiagnosisPhotography
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 5 , May 2013 , pp. 528 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Arnold, J. A case of congenital composite lipoma of the tongue and pharynx with perforation into the cranial cavity [in German]. Virchows Arch fur Pathol Anat Physiol Klinical Med 1870;50:482–516CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Shvidler, J, Cable, BB, Sheridan, M. Hairy polyp in the oropharynx of a 5-week-old infant with sudden-onset respiratory distress. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;136:491–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Kalcioglu, MT, Can, S, Aydin, NE. Unusual case of soft palate hairy polyp causing airway obstruction and review of the literature. J Paediatr Surg 2010;45:E5–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Burns, BV, Axon, PR, Pahade, A. ‘Hairy polyp’ of the pharynx in association with an ipsilateral branchial sinus: evidence that the ‘hairy polyp’ is a second branchial arch malformation. J Laryngol Otol 2001;115:145–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Franco, V, Florena, AM, Lombardo, F, Restivo, S. Bilateral hairy polyp of the oropharynx. J Laryngol Otol 1996;110:288–90CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Resta, L, Santangelo, A, Bastilla, G. The s.c. ‘hairy polyp’ or ‘dermoid’ of the nasopharynx. (An unusual observation in older age). J Laryngol Otol 1984;98:1043–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7New, GB, Erich, JB. Dermoid cysts of the head and neck. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1937;65:48–55Google Scholar
8Tapper, D, Ernest, E. Teratomas in infancy and childhood. Ann Surg 1983;198:398–409CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Heffner, DK, Thompson, LDR, Schall, DG, Anderson, V. Pharyngeal dermoids (‘hairy polyps’) as accessory auricles. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1996;105:819–24CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Frech, RS, McAlister, WH. Teratoma of the nasopharynx producing depression of the posterior hard palate. J Can Assoc Radiol 1969;20:204–5Google ScholarPubMed
11Rich, M, Lamola, S, Amory, C, Schneider, L. Asthma in life context: Video Intervention/Prevention Assessment (VIA). Pediatrics 2000;105:469–77CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12AliveCor. In: http://alivecor.com/index.htm [20 September 2011]Google Scholar