Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Chest Wall: A Cooperative Study with Review of the Literature

The clinicopathologic features of three examples of mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall are described. The entity has been recorded under a number of names including osteochondroma, osteochondrosarcoma, benign chondroblastoma, mesenchymoma, and chondromatous hamartoma. The condition is manifest at birth or shortly thereafter with deformity of the chest wall and respiratory distress. Radiographic examination reveals a well-defined, partly calcified mass involving one or more ribs. The tumor is composed predominantly of chondroid tissue with large endothelium-lined blood spaces and immature mesenchyme with osteoclastic giant cells and osteoid. We review the literature and suggest that the lesion should be distinguished from aneurysmal bone cyst, chondroma, and other mesenchymal neoplasms. In order to avoid local recurrence the recommended treatment is complete surgical resection.