[Solitary and multiple granular cell tumors. Case reports and review of the literature]

Abstract

Two patients with multiple granular cell tumours (GZTs) of the skin and one patient with GZT of the tongue are reported. The tumours had been becoming larger for several years without subjective symptoms. Only the GZT of the tongue was diagnosed correctly before surgery; the cutaneous GZTs were identified only at histological examination. Benign GZTs reveal similar histomorphological features. In contrast, immunohistochemical studies yield conflicting results. Thus, cellular differentiation of GZT is still controversial. On current evidence, GZTs represent a distinct entity with a common histogeneis. The most widely accepted theory is that they originate from a cell in the peripheral nerve system, which has not yet been more precisely characterized.