Respiratory distress caused by congenital mixed (lymphoid–venous) vascular hamartoma

Vascular malformations are a well described group of congenital cystic neck lesions. Besides true neoplasms the smallest percentage of these cases are non-neoplastic malformations or congenital disturbances of tissue development, often with an abnormal mixture of tissue indigenous to the region. A hamartoma may occur in any organ, it is characterized by a focal overgrowth of mature normal cells and tissues at sites of identical cellular composition. Haemangiomas, lymphangiomas, arteriovenous, capillary and venous malformations belong to the hamartoma group. The mixed hamartoma consisting of different types of vascular cells occurs seldom. The authors discuss the preoperative diagnostic possibilities, the differential diagnostic steps and the treatment concepts, through the case of a rare, congenital, mixed, prenatally diagnosed hamartoma, which led to early airway compromise.