Granular cell tumour vocal cord in an adolescent child-A case report

Abstract

Granular cell tumors are benign relatively rare lesions that can occur in any organ in the body. Tongue is the most predilected site. Granular cell tumor vocal cord is even rarer and typically occurs in the third decade of life. It generally presents as a single lesion, but multiple lesions can also occur. Patients present with hoarseness and\or airway obstruction. Granular cell tumors are resistant to radiotherapy, and therefore surgical excision is the treatment of choice. We report the case of granular cell tumor vocal cord in a 13-year-old male child in whom direct laryngoscopic excision of the tumor was advocated. A 13-year-old boy presented to Department of ENT medical college Kottayam, with history of change in voice and frequent clearing of throat of 5 months duration. He was subjected to detailed ENT evaluation and indirect laryngoscopic examination showed a smooth reddish mass involving the entire length of right vocal cord with normal vocal cord mobility. Neck and other ENT areas were within normal limits. General examination did not reveal any abnormalities. He was investigated and subjected to Direct Laryngoscopy under General Anaesthesia. The laryngoscopic finding was a firm reddish mass involving the entire length of membranous part of right vocal cord which was completely excised and the specimen sent for histopathological examination. Post operative period was uneventful. KeywordsThe histopathology (Photo 1, 2 and 3 ) report came as Granular cell tumour. During the first postoperative review clinical examination showed a normal larynx with normal vocal cord and the patient was absolutely free of symptoms. He is under regular follow up now. DiscussionGranular cell tumour is a benign mesenchymal neoplasm of schwann cell origin. Previously it was named as Granular cell myoblastoma and also called as Abrikossoff tumour. Current etiological data suggest that granular cell tumour is the consequence of degradation and is not a specific neoplastic entity. The granular cell tumour usually affects middle aged individuals of range 30 to 50 years and there is slight female predilection. The oral cavity, specifically the tongue is the most common site of its occurrence. Other sites include the anterior and posterior chest wall, upper limbs, larynx, stomach, vulva and anogenital region. Most common location in larynx is the true vocal cords-middle and posterior 1\3 rd.