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Case Reports
. 2015 Jun 8:2015:bcr2015209825.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-209825.

A hairy situation

Nader Ibrahim  1 , Nicola Rachel Wooles  2 , Marianne Elloy  2 , Philip Da Forno  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

A hairy situation

Nader Ibrahim et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 2-day-old neonate was transferred to a specialist paediatric otolaryngology centre with stridor at rest, feeding difficulties and an apparent mass in the oropharynx. The newborn displayed evidence of respiratory distress, however, she remained self-ventilating. MRI highlighted a fat-containing lesion in the postnasal space with no intracranial extension. A CT scan under general anaesthesia showed no underlying bony abnormality, and hence an examination of the nasopharynx, oropharynx and microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy were performed. The macroscopically hairy lesion arising from the superior aspect of the soft palate was resected. Histology displayed a benign growth measuring 28×17×12 mm in keeping with a hairy polyp. This is one of very few cases, to the best of our knowledge, in which a hairy polyp (bigerminal choristomas) has resulted in stridor in the first few days of life. Nasal masses in neonates, although a rare phenomenon, remain clinically important as they are obligate nasal breathers.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MRI 2.3×1.2×8.9 mm mass within the postnasal space. No evidence of intracranial extension.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Polyp in situ visualised transorally using 120° scope arising from the soft palate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Post resection. Hairy polyp measuring 3.3 cm.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A polypoid lesion with appearances of normal skin and underlying skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (×20).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Appearances of normal skin and underlying cartilage and adipose tissue (×20).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Appearances of normal skin including hair follicles and eccrine sweat glands (×20).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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