Granular cell tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and perianal region: a study of 74 cases

Abstract

Seventy-four patients with 75 examples of granular cell tumors occurring in the gastrointestinal tract and perianal region were studied. Twenty-four were located in the esophagus, eight in the stomach, three in the small bowel, four in the appendix, twenty in the large bowel, and sixteen in the perianal region. Nine cases had multiple tumors either occurring in the same area of the bowel or in other organs, mostly the skin. Approximately 50% of the tumors occurring in the esophagus and perianal region showed varying degrees of acanthosis or pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. In the perianal tumors the pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia was much more extensive and could be mistaken for squamous cell carcinoma. The world literature was reviewed and a total of 66 cases of granular cell tumors were reported in the area of study. In neither our 74 nor the other reported cases was there evidence of recurrence or malignant behavior of the tumors, thus confirming their benign biologic behavior.