title: Nasopharyngeal leiomyomatous hamartoma: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibroma, neurofibroma, and papilloma are the most commonly encountered benign lesions in the nasopharynx. Hamartomas are non-neoplastic overgrowth of mature/differentiated tissue indigenous to the specific part of the body in which they develop. Most hamartomas are located in the liver, spleen, lungs, and pancreas. However, nasopharyngeal hamartoma is rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe here a 77-year-old Japanese woman who presented with a mass arising from the left lateral wall of the nasopharynx. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a soft tissue mass without bony erosion, suggesting that the mass was a benign tumor such as a fibroma. Pathological examination showed that the mass was a leiomyomatous hamartoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first report of a leiomyomatous hamartoma in the nasopharynx. Although leiomyomatous hamartoma in the nasopharynx is extremely rare, it should be kept in mind during differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Nasu Red Cross Hospital, 1081-4 Nakatahara, 324-8686 Ohtawara City, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Function and Molecular Biology, Ohu University, 31-1 Misumido Tomita-machi 963-8611 Koriyama City, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Nasu Red Cross Hospital, 1081-4 Nakatahara, 324-8686 Ohtawara City, Tochigi, Japan ; Department of Oral Function and Molecular Biology, Ohu University, 31-1 Misumido Tomita-machi 963-8611 Koriyama City, Fukushima, Japan ; Department of General Clinical Medicine, Ohu University, 31-1 Misumido Tomita-machi, 963-8611 Koriyama City, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baba
keywords: Hamartoma; Nasopharynx; Otolaryngologic tumor