Prevalence of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (REAH) associated with nasal polyposis: an epidemiological study – how to diagnose

Abstract

Objectives:

To highlight the prevalence of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas in the olfactory cleft of patients with nasal polyposis. To demonstrate characteristics indicative of hamartoma on the CT scans of paranasal sinuses during surgery and in histopathological exams.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study carried out in Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG and Núcleo de Otorrino BH. We performed 114 nasal endoscopic surgeries for polyposis, between February 2015 and November 2019. We assessed the olfactory cleft width in all preoperative CT scans. Upon seeing an indication of hamartoma on the CT scan, we took a tissue sample from the olfactory cleft during the surgery and sent for histopathological exam. We referred the samples to a pathologist experienced in the anatomopathological diagnosis of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas.

Results:

Of the 114 patients with polyposis, 54 (47.4%) had olfactory cleft enlargement and, 100% of them had tissue with a dense and hardened polypoid aspect, with a slight cerebri-form appearance in this region during the surgery. Histology confirmed a respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma.

Conclusion:

This observation suggests that the presence of hamartomas in polyposis is common, but underdiagnosed.

Level of evidence:

Step 3 (Level 3).

KEYWORDS
REAH, respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma; Nasal polyposis; Olfactory cleft; Nasal computedtomography scan

HIGHLIGHTS

Olfactory cleft enlargement and opacification suggests hamartoma.

Individualized anatomopathological exam of material from the olfactory cleft.

Material examined by experienced pathologist.

Almost half of the patients with Nasal Polyps have hamartomas.