DEAR DR. GOTT: I spoke with a friend recently who said she was diagnosed with a hamartoma in her chest cavity. I corrected her and said she likely had a hematoma, but she was convinced she heard her doctor correctly. Can you tell me the right word?
DEAR READER: Without knowing your friend and her medical condition, I can only assume she is correct. I will outline the differences between the two words.
A hamartoma is a benign growth composed of an abnormal mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal elements. It is a part of any tissue that either grows faster or without the usual organization of its neighbor cells. It results from faulty development. [Read more...]