Imaging features of granular cell tumor in the breast

Abstract

Rationale: Granular cell tumor of the breast (GCTB) is a benign rare tumor. There are limited reports on its imaging manifestations. GCTB is often misdiagnosed as breast cancer, which results in unnecessary radical mastectomy and excessive treatment. In this article, we have reported a case of a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman with GCTB and highlighted the imaging features to differentiate this rare tumor from breast cancer. Patient concerns: A 56-year-old postmenopausal patient had a chief complaint of a subcutaneous nodule in the upper outer quadrant of her right breast for 2 months. She underwent physical examination, color Doppler ultrasonography, mammography, magnetic resonance, and postoperative pathology. Diagnoses: The final diagnosis was GCTB. The tumor cells were intermingled with the fibrous stroma and normal breast parenchyma and showed positive immunoreaction to S-100, CD68, and neuron-specific enolase. Interventions: The patient underwent lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Outcomes: The patient recovered well after lumpectomy and had no complications during the 2-year follow-up. Lessons: There are some important imaging features of GCTB that can be used to distinguish it from breast carcinoma to reduce misdiagnosis.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of granular cell tumor in breast: A case report with review of the literature

“…The GCTB can mimic malignant breast tumors in clinical appearance, making it difficult to differentiate from breast cancer. The conventional ultrasound (US) and mammography (MG) are wildly used to describe breast lumps, but they might describe with low specificity in distinguishing breast granular cell tumor according to previous case reports (6)(7)(8). Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the breast is not so effective in diagnosis of GCT as breast malignant tumor (8).…”

Granular Cell Tumor of the Breast: Understanding the Cancer Mimic through a Series of Three Cases

“…Breast GCTs likely originate from Schwann cells of peripheral nerves in the lobular breast tissue. 1,2 They may mimic breast cancer clinically and radiologically. 3,4 Breast GCTs are more common in premenopausal African American women.…”

“…6 On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the tumor is isointense or slightly hyperintense, with variable enhancement patterns. 1,2 It is important to differentiate GCT from breast cancer, as their treatment and prognosis are different. Treatment for breast GCT is complete tumor resection and prognosis is excellent.…”

“…Unlike breast cancers, breast GCTs are not hypermetabolic on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. 1,2 Histopathological examination with core needle biopsy along with immunohistochemistry is needed to make the diagnosis of GCT. Fine-needle aspiration may not be diagnostic.…”

Granular cell tumors of the breast: an unusual case of multifocality—a case report

“…Sonographically, these present as irregular masses with angular margins and posterior shadowing. GCT of the breast manifests in the intralobular breast stroma and follows the distribution pathway of the supraclavicular nerve with a tendency for malignant variants to spread through lymphatic and hematogenous routes (3). Age of presentation in women ranges from 17 to 74 years, but most common presentation occurs in ages 30-50 years, based on literature review (4).…”