Érika Machado do Carmo Albuquerque, Letícia Albuquerque Rodrigues, Gislayne Nunes de Siqueira, Marcelo Bonifácio da Silva Sampieri, Filipe Nobre Chaves, Denise Hélen Imaculada Pereira de Oliveira
Although rare, rhabdomyomatous hamartoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral nodules in children. Histopathological confirmation is essential for accurate diagnosis and as a guide to treatment, helping to avoid unnecessary interventions and ensuring proper management of the lesion.
BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyomatous hamartoma is a rare congenital lesion, usually described on the face and neck and infrequently found in the oral cavity. Because its clinical presentation is non-specific, histopathological examination plays a fundamental role in establishing the final diagnosis and determining appropriate therapeutic management.
CASE REPORT: An 8-year-old male patient presented with a submucosal nodule on the left lateral border of the tongue. The initial diagnostic hypothesis was dermoid cyst; however, histopathological examination revealed thick, interlacing bundles of skeletal striated muscle, compatible with rhabdomyomatous hamartoma.
CONCLUSION: Although rare, rhabdomyomatous hamartoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral nodules in children. Histopathological confirmation is essential for accurate diagnosis and as a guide to treatment, helping to avoid unnecessary interventions and ensuring proper management of the lesion.