Neuromuscular hamartoma (benign "triton" tumor) of the brachial plexus. Case report

Abstract

Neuromuscular hamartoma (choristoma) or benign "triton" tumor is a very rare peripheral-nerve tumor composed of mature nerve fibers and well-differentiated striated muscle fibers. Only seven cases have been reported in the literature. A new case of this rare entity is described in a 36-year-old white woman with a recurrent left supraclavicular mass in the brachial plexus area. Unlike the previous cases, this patient had continued to have proliferation of her tumor since childhood, requiring total resection in adulthood. It is concluded that total resection of these tumors should be attempted at initial diagnosis. The histogenesis of these tumors remains unclear. They may represent proliferation of neuroectodermal-derived or limb mesodermal tissue in the elements of a peripheral nerve.