Neonatal Occipital Exocranial and Endocranial Hamartoma at the University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa: A Case Report

Hamartoma is a rare benign malformation characterized by a disorganized but non-neoplastic proliferation of tissues normally found within the affected organ. Neonatal hamartoma is an uncommon condition of the central nervous system. We report the case of an 18-day-old female neonate brought by her family to the University Teaching Hospital of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a congenital occipital mass. On admission, the patient was alert, with stable vital signs and a preserved general condition. Physical examination revealed a 10 × 6 cm occipital mass, firm centrally and fluctuant at the periphery, with an irregular surface. The lesion was mobile relative to both superficial and deep planes and exhibited pulsatility. Cranial computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous extra-axial mass, initially suspected to be a teratoma. Complete surgical excision of the lesion was performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of an exocranial and endocranial hamartoma. The postoperative course was complicated by a surgical site infection, which was successfully managed with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Follow-up at three months was favorable. This case highlights an unusual occipital localization of hamartoma and underscores the importance of imaging and histopathological examination in the diagnosis and management of this congenital malformation.