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What

Fibrous hamartoma of infancy (FHI) is a benign (noncancerous), tumor-like growth of soft tissue. FHI may be present at birth, or it may occur within the first two years of life. Fibrous hamartoma is a painless nodule made up of fibrous tissue, such as that found in tendons, ligaments and fascia (the membrane that covers muscles and organs). It often grows rapidly. Hamartomas are usually single growths (lesions) rather than multiple, although some cases of multiple lesions have been reported. Fibrous hamartoma lesions typically arise in the deeper skin near the armpit, upper arm, upper trunk, groin, scalp, scrotum and perineum. Growths can vary in size. They are firm to the touch and remain fixed to the underlying tissue.

Who

Fibrous hamartoma occurs more frequently in boys than girls, but both sexes can be affected.

Signs and Symptoms

A fibrous hamartoma lesion may appear as an unusual growth that increases in size rapidly. In some cases, there may be changes to the overlying skin, including altered skin color and excessive hair.

Possible Causes

Genetic mutations appear to be the cause of this condition, however, it does not seem to be inherited.

Diagnosis

Several methods may be used by your child’s doctor to diagnose FHI, depending on the location and size of the lesion. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, your child’s doctor may order a biopsy. This is a simple surgical procedure in which a small tissue sample is taken from the tumor. Examination using a microscope will determine what kinds of cells are present and enable the doctor to confirm the diagnosis of fibrous hamartoma. X-rays may be ordered. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another imaging technique that uses powerful magnets and a computer to create detailed images of organs and structures. It can help determine the size and extent of the mass, and its relationship to nearby muscle, bone, nerves, and blood vessels. ultrasound, similar to that used to image pregnancies, is another method that your child’s doctor may use. ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of structures within the body.

Treatment

Surgery will most likely be recommended to remove the fibrous hamartoma. In some cases, the lesion is simply removed before any other tests are performed, and then sent for tissue analysis to confirm the diagnosis.

Prognosis

Surgery tends to be very successful in cases of fibrous hamartoma of infancy. Although it is important for the surgeon to remove the entire mass to prevent the lesion from returning, the incidence of recurrence is generally low.

Connect with other parents

In the spirit of community and support, Madisons Foundation offers the unique service of connecting parents of children with rare diseases. If you would like to be connected to other parents of children with this disease, please fill out this brief form.

Weblinks

A brief technical summary from Pediatric Surgery Update. (Hint: search for hamartoma)
MedScape/WebMD review of Fibrous Proliferative Disorders: Discusses many different fibrous lesions, including FHI.

Google Search for Fibrous Hamartoma of Infancy (FHI)

References and Sources