Granular cell tumors of the trachea

Abstract

In contrast to the relative frequency of granular cell tumors (GCT) in the larynx and bronchi, the occurrence of these tumors in the trachea is rare. A 50-year review of the English-language literature disclosed only 24 described cases of tracheal GCT. This report reviews the clinicopathologic data from those 24 cases, along with the data from 2 cases obtained via a personal communication and the data from 4 previously unpublished cases obtained from a 30-year review of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology archives. Tracheal resection was the predominant mode of therapy and often was performed as a salvage procedure for failed endoscopic excisions. Recommendations for a more uniform approach to surgical management are provided.

Neck and superior mediastinal granular cell tumor excised via a combined approach

“…Most GCTs are benign, with malignant GCTs accounting for only 1-2% of all cases [7,8]. The diagnostic criteria for malignant GCT are necrosis, spindling, vesicular nuclei with large nucleoli, increased mitotic activity (>2 mitoses/10 high-power fields, 200Â magnification), high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, and pleomorphism.…”

“…In our patient, only one of these criteria was observed (spindling), and the tumor was classified as atypical. Some GCTs that are initially described as having benign or atypical features become clinically malignant, developing local recurrence, distant metastasis, and/or lymph node metastasis [8]. The features of clinically malignant tumors include: diameter >4 cm, rapid growth, distant metastasis, local invasion, and early recurrence after treatment of the primary lesion [7][8][9][10].…”

“…However, some case reports have suggested that chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be beneficial in cases of unresectable recurrence or metastasis. One reported case of tracheal malignant GCT with mediastinal metastasis responded to postoperative radiotherapy [8]. Rosenthal et al [12] reported a patient with recurrent GCT in the buttock who was successfully treated by salvage surgery and subsequent radiotherapy.…”

Oral granular cell tumor: a study of twelve cases in a Brazilian population

“…This theory supports the fact that lesions are a consequence of altered cellular metabolism of Schwann cells or their precursors (1). This hypothesis is based on its positivity to S100, neurone-especific enolase, glycoprotein and leu-7, and electron microscopy studies, which shows a continuous basal layer around the cells, reminiscent from perineurium, and the presence of structures compatible with myelin, inside presumably in autophagic lisosomes (3,13). As previously reported in literature, the reviewed cases of GCT occurred as solitary lesions, presenting a higher prevalence in females, affecting patients between 21 to 74 years old, mean age of 41,8 years old.…”

Childhood granular cell tumors: Two case reports

“…To the best of our knowledge, only four cases of multifocal GCT with tracheal lesions have been reported in children [4,5].…”