Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma with review of sinonasal tract cartilaginous lesions

Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma is a rare, benign lesion that contains mixed mesenchymal elements including cartilage. These lesions typically present as nasal masses in infants who are having symptoms of respiratory distress. On imaging, the tumor may have an aggressive appearance with erosion of bone. The diagnosis is clinically significant as a nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma may be the presenting lesion in DICER1 familial tumor susceptibility syndrome. Cartilage containing lesions of the sinonasal tract are rare and range from tumor-like lesions to malignant lesions. We review nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma and discuss a pathologic differential diagnosis.