A Case of Granular Cell Tumor

Moon Jung Kim, Ka Youn Chang, Yeon Soon Lim, Hae Young Choi, Ki Bum Myoung

Copyright ⓒ 1999. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Mar 30, 1999

Abstract

Granular cell tumor(GCT) is an uncommon tumor characterized clinically by an asymptomatic, solitary nodule in the tongue and skin, especially head and neck region. Histopathologically the broad fascicles of tumor cells infiltrate the dermis and the tumor cells are characterized by plump cells with faint eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm.

The origin of cells has been debated for decades. However electron microscopic and immunohistochemical studies strongly support a Schwann cell origin.

We report a case of granular cell tumor arising from the anterior chest of 12-year-old healthy girl, which exhibited the distinctive histopathologic appearance and also reactive with PAS, S-100, and NSE.

Keywords: Granular cell tumor; Schwann cell origin