Fibrous hamartoma of infancy: an Italian multi-institutional experience.

BACKGROUND

Fibrous hamartoma (FH) of infancy is a benign mesenchymal tumor, occurring as a superficial mass. Complete excision is curative.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

The clinical features and treatment results of 18 children with FH are described.

RESULTS

Local excision was the most common procedure. Surgery was radical in 10 patients, with microscopic residual disease in 6; all of them are alive with no evidence of disease 2 to 49 months after diagnosis. One patient, treated with a local reexcision for macroscopic residual disease (and chemotherapy for a synchronous desmoid fibromatosis) is well 83 months after diagnosis; the last patient, with a lesion of the labia majora, only underwent biopsy and is doing well, awaiting plastic surgery.

LIMITATIONS

The results did not reach statistical significance due to difficulties in collecting cases.

CONCLUSIONS

FH should be treated by complete excision; in our experience a nonradical excision was also able to achieve the cure. An aggressive approach should be avoided, as the overall prognosis is excellent.