title: Caught on camera: hairy polyp of the posterior tonsillar pillar.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Imperial College School of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, UK. steven.seng@doctors.org.uk
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Seng
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Kieran
authors: S O
authors: SO
authors: Vargas
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: McGill
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D014741:Video Recording