What is a Hamartoma?

A hamartoma (pronounced "ham-ar-TOE-muh") is a growth that looks like a tumor and can develop anywhere in your body. While many people think of cancer when they hear the word "tumor," a hamartoma is not cancer. These growths are made of the same types of cells and tissues normally found in that specific part of your body. The only difference is that they grow in a disorganized or haphazard way.

In most cases, these growths are not dangerous. However, they can cause problems if they become large enough to press on or damage the organs and tissues around them. In some rare cases, they may be a sign of a genetic disorder that increases a person's risk of developing cancer later on.

If you have a hamartoma that could be harmful, your doctor will talk to you about it. If the growth is causing issues, your doctor will likely perform surgery to remove it.

What are the different types of hamartomas?

Different hamartomas based on where they appear in the body. Common types include:

• Breast hamartoma: Located in the breast tissue.
• Cardiac rhabdomyoma: A growth found in the heart.
• Digestive tract hamartomatous polyps: Found in the stomach or intestines.
• Hypothalamic hamartoma: Located in the hypothalamus region of the brain.
• Lipofibromatous hamartoma: A growth that affects the nerves.
• Lung hamartoma: Located within the lungs.

What are the symptoms of a hamartoma?

Most people with a hamartoma do not have any symptoms. You usually won't feel anything unless the growth becomes large enough to press against nearby organs or tissues. If symptoms do occur, they will depend entirely on where the growth is located. For example, a growth in the lungs might cause a cough, while one in the brain might cause different neurological issues.

What causes a hamartoma?

Experts are not exactly sure what causes these growths to form. However, they do know that certain genetic disorders can play a role. These disorders happen when you inherit a specific gene mutation from one of your biological parents.

What are the risk factors?

Certain rare genetic conditions can increase your risk of developing hamartomas. These include:

• Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1): This often leads to growths on the nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and skin.
• Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS): This is linked to hypothalamic hamartomas in the brain.
• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS): This increases the chance of growths in the stomach, lungs, bladder, and intestines.
• PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS): This can cause growths in the skin, thyroid, breasts, uterus, and digestive system.
• Tuberous sclerosis: This can cause growths in the heart, brain, eyes, skin, and kidneys.

Having one of these syndromes may increase your overall risk of developing cancer. It is important to remember that the cancer risk comes from the genetic syndrome itself, not usually from the hamartoma. If you have one of these conditions, your doctor may recommend regular checkups and cancer screenings.

What are the complications?

Most hamartomas are harmless (benign). They only cause complications if they interfere with how your organs work. For example:

• In the brain: A hypothalamic hamartoma can lead to seizures or developmental delays in children.
• In the heart: A cardiac rhabdomyoma might block or slow down blood flow.

If a hamartoma causes symptoms or health problems, a doctor will usually recommend removing it.

How do doctors diagnose a hamartoma?

Doctors often find hamartomas by accident while looking for something else during an imaging test. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should visit your doctor. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order several tests, such as:

• X-ray or Ultrasound
• CT scan (computed tomography)
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• Mammography (for breast growths)

If the doctor wants to be absolutely sure the growth is not cancerous, they may perform a biopsy. During a biopsy, a small piece of the tissue is removed and sent to a lab to be studied under a microscope.

How is a hamartoma treated?

Most people do not need treatment for a hamartoma unless it starts causing symptoms. If the growth is causing pain or health issues, the doctor will likely suggest surgery to remove it.

However, if the hamartoma is too close to a vital organ or a sensitive nerve—such as the nerve connecting the brain to the eyes—surgery might be too risky. In those cases, a doctor might suggest:

• Ablation therapy: Using intense heat to destroy the tissue.
• Gamma Knife Radiosurgery: A type of radiation therapy that targets and removes tissue with extreme precision without a traditional incision.

What is the long-term outlook?

Since most hamartomas are benign, the outlook is generally very good. Your specific experience will depend on:

• Where the growth is located.
• If you are having symptoms.
• If the growth is part of a lifelong genetic syndrome.

Your doctor will guide you on whether you need treatment or if the growth just needs to be monitored.

Can a hamartoma turn into cancer?

While it is possible for a hamartoma to become cancerous, it is extremely rare. Most hamartomas are not dangerous. The main concern is usually whether a person has an underlying genetic syndrome, like PHTS, which increases the risk of other types of cancer. In these cases, the increased risk is linked to the syndrome, not the hamartoma itself.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Hamartoma treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Hamartoma treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced breast surgeons and specialists, known as some of the best doctors for benign breast conditions. We provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging and biopsy when required, personalized medical management, and surgical treatment in selected cases. Our team has decades of experience in successfully treating Hamartoma in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Hamartoma treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

Request a Call Back