Question

A 5-year-old child was admitted to the hospital for prolapsing rectal mass and painless rectal bleeding. Histopathological examination reveals enlarged and inflamed glands filled with mucin. What is the likely diagnosis?

• A. Adenoma
• B. Choristoma
• C. Hamartoma
• D. Carcinoma

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question involves a 5-year-old child exhibiting symptoms of prolapsing rectal mass and painless rectal bleeding. The histopathological findings show enlarged and inflamed glands filled with mucin. Several options are provided, and we need to determine the most likely diagnosis based on these details.

First, let's analyze the information:

• Age of the Child: The young age suggests congenital or developmental conditions are more likely.
• Symptoms: Prolapsing rectal mass and painless rectal bleeding are indicative of a benign lesion rather than malignant ones.
• Histopathology: Enlarged and inflamed glands filled with mucin are characteristic of certain types of polyps.

Next, let's examine each option:

• Adenoma: Typically denotes a benign tumor of epithelial tissue; often associated with potential malignant transformation, unlikely here given the age and typical presentation.
• Choristoma: A mass formed by histologically normal tissue in an abnormal location, rare in rectal presentations with these symptoms.
• Hamartoma: A benign, focal malformation that resembles a neoplasm in the tissue of its origin. This option matches both the histological findings and common juvenile presentations.
• Carcinoma: A malignant tumor made up of epithelial cells. Highly unlikely given the child's age and painless nature of symptoms.

From the above, Hamartoma, specifically a juvenile polyp (hamartomatous polyp), best fits both the clinical and histological presentation. Juvenile polyps are benign hamartomatous growths commonly seen in children, often presenting with rectal bleeding and mucin-filled glands, as observed in this case.

Therefore, the most likely diagnosis for this child is Hamartoma.