Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas and chondroosseous respiratory epithelial hamartomas of the sinonasal tract: a case series and literature review

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (REAH) and chondroosseous respiratory epithelial (CORE) hamartomas are rare sinonasal/nasopharyngeal lesions first characterized in 1995. Although REAH and CORE hamartomas are benign, nonneoplastic lesions, awareness and recognition of these lesions are important because they can be confused grossly and microscopically with more threatening sinonasal tumors. This report presents two cases of REAH and one case of a CORE hamartoma. The literature regarding REAH and CORE hamartomas is reviewed, and their distinction from related entities of the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx is discussed. Misdiagnosing REAH or CORE hamartoma as either inverted papilloma or adenocarcinoma may lead to far more aggressive surgical intervention then is necessary.