Skin hamartoma in children: Diagnosis and therapeutic issues

The Authors report two cases of cutaneous hamartoma appearing as a well-circumscribed tumor of the right axillary region diagnosed in neonatal period. Patients were respectively female and male. The radiological exploration carried out showed the anomaly as heterogenous mass with fluid-filled cystic pockets. The histological diagnosis was carried out by submitting surgical specimens to pathological anatomy examination. The treatment consisted in undertaking a surgical resection in the first case. In the second case, punctures were carried out in order to empty an important accumulation of fluid-filled cystic pockets. Following the operation, the residual mass was fistulized which permitted a discharge of superinfected sebaceous liquid in the first case and the disappearance of the mass with relapse in the second patient. Cutaneous hamartoma is a rare benign tumor of histological diagnosis. Clinical and histological forms are varied: verrucous epidermal (the most frequent), sebaceous, verruco-sebaceous, achromic, pilar, and Becker's nevus. Opinions remain divided as related to therapeutic choices available, namely, abstention with spontaneous regression, surgical resection and CO2 laser destruction. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.