Granular cell tumor: A report of three cases and review of literature

Abstract

Objective: In order to improve the understanding of granular cell tumor and avoid missing the best time of treatment, we report three patients with rare granular cell tumors admitted to our hospital in the past 10 years.

Methods: The characteristics, methods of treatment, postoperative pathological results and follow-up results of three cases of granular cell tumor were analyzed; and literatures related to granular cell tumors were reviewed.

Results: All patients underwent surgical treatment, and the excised lesions were sent to the laboratory for testing. Postoperative pathological results were as follows: granular cell tumor of the vulva, granular cell tumor within the sheath of the rectus muscle, and granular cell tumor in the left cubit nerve. All three cases were benign, and no recurrence was found during follow-ups after the operation.

Conclusion: Granular cell tumors are rare tumors derived from the nerve sheath, are mostly benign tumors, and the incidence of malignancy is 2%. The gold standard for diagnosis of granular cell tumor is histopathology. Granular cell tumor is not sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and needs to be surgically removed. Since this disease may have no solid lesions and tumor cells can infiltrate local tissues, based on the full excision of the lesion, the extent of resection may be extended to areas without infiltration. This disease has a possibility of recurrence, and patients need to be followed-up.

Keywords: Granular cell tumor; left wrist nerve; right rectus sheath; vulva.