Hamartomatous Lesions in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Hamartomatous lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region represent benign, disorganised overgrowths of native tissue elements arising from developmental deviations. They may present at birth or in early life, but some subtypes remain undetected until they reach sufficient size to cause functional disturbance. Clinically, these lesions manifest as well-circumscribed exophytic or sessile nodules on the tongue, palate, buccal mucosa or adjacent soft tissues. Common subtypes include leiomyomatous, neurovascular and fibrous hamartomas, each defined by a predominance of smooth muscle, nerve-vascular bundles or fibrous connective tissue, respectively, set within a background of normal salivary, adipose or vascular structures. Histopathological examination is essential for differentiation from choristomas, hamartoma-like neoplasms and true tumours. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography aid in assessing extent and involvement of underlying structures. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment, with an excellent prognosis and low recurrence when complete resection is achieved. Recent advances in molecular profiling have begun to elucidate the embryological pathways of aberrant tissue proliferation, offering future prospects for refined classification and minimally invasive management strategies. Understanding the spectrum of hamartomatous lesions is critical for clinicians and pathologists to ensure accurate diagnosis, guide appropriate surgical planning and avoid overtreatment.

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Hamartomatous Lesions in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in hamartomatous lesions in oral and maxillofacial pathology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Hamartoma: A benign, focal proliferation of mature cells and tissues normally present in the affected organ.

Leiomyomatous hamartoma: A hamartoma composed predominantly of smooth muscle bundles intermixed with native soft-tissue elements.

Neurovascular hamartoma: A hamartomatous lesion characterised by an overgrowth of nerve fibres and blood vessels within the native mucosal framework.

References

1. Hamartoma of the soft palate: Case report and review of literature. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports (2024).
2. A Case of an Infantile Lingual Leiomyomatous Hamartoma. Case Reports in Otolaryngology (2022).
3. Neurovascular hamartoma: a case report of a tongue lesion. Brazilian Journal of Case Reports (2022).