A Case of Gastric Granular Cell Tumor: Review of Literature and Features of Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Abstract

Granular cell tumor was originally described as granular cell myoblastoma by Abrikossoff. The incidence of GCT in the gastrointestinal tract is low, and most granular cell tumors occur in the esophagus and large bowel. Gastric granular cell tumors are rare and difficult to distinguish from carcinoid tumors by gross endoscopic findings and endoscopic ultrasonography findings. We report a case of gastric granular cell tumor, treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection, and review the endoscopic ultrasonography findings of recently reported gastric granular cell tumors. (Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res 2015;15:59-63)

Gastric granular cell tumour, a rare entity

“…On the EUS, gastric GCTs usually appear as hypoechoic and homogeneous lesions arising from the mucosa and/or submucosa. These EUS findings are similar to those of gastric carcinoid tumours making differential diagnosis very difficult 2…”

“…Contrary to gastric GCTs, on endoscopy, gastric carcinoid tumours are usually multiple and often appear as small polypoid lesions with a central depression or central ulcer 2…”

“…Most of gastric GCTs are asymptomatic, usually found incidentally on endoscopy 2 8. When present, the prevailing gastrointestinal symptoms described were dyspepsia and abdominal pain/discomfort 1 4 6 7 9.…”

“…They are rare, usually benign, neoplasms that may occur at many sites, with only 8% of the cases occurring at a gastrointestinal location 1. Most of the gastrointestinal GCTs are located in the oesophagus and large bowel, but rarely in the stomach 2…”

“…According to Patti et al ,1 up until 2006 only 29 cases of GCTs with a gastric location were reported. Since 2006, 21 more cases have been described 2–7…”