Nonpolypous Hamartomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: An Updated Review on Classification, Denominations, and Clinical Management.
JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022;
2022:6983460. [PMID:
35586207 PMCID:
PMC9110201 DOI:
10.1155/2022/6983460]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
To perform the first systematic report about histological subtypes of nonpolypous hamartomas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from esophagus to anal canal.
Design
From over 19,000 studies about hamartomas, most of them published as case series or case presentations, we have selected the most representative ones for the GI tract, excluding polyposis syndromes. To have a whole picture of these hamartomas, all of the data were combined with the personal experience of the authors who are GI pathologists.
Results
The examined articles showed predominance of vascular and combined vascular and mesenchymal hamartomas. Arteriovenous hamartomas or Brunner gland hamartomas are mainly diagnosed in the small intestine, with preponderance for duodenum. Other malformations such cavernous hamartomas are more specific for the colorectal segments, whereas chondromatous hamartomas or those derived from the neural ectoderm were mostly reported in the esophagus. As newly recognized entities were admitted in the last years, misdiagnosis is frequent, and the best therapeutic approach is far to be known.
Conclusion
Even rare, hamartomas of the GI tract need to be differentiated from tumors and familial polyposis syndromes. Knowing their proper denominations and possible complications is valuable for gastroenterologists, pathologists, and surgeons, to be aware in the differential diagnosis.
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