Granularity in granular cell ameloblastoma

Abstract

Granular cell ameloblastoma (GCA) is one of the rare histological variants of ameloblastoma (1.5-3.5%), identified by Krompechner in 1918 and is diagnosed by the characteristic presence of granular cells. These granular cells are seen in several physiological and pathological conditions and the granularity in GCA is due to lysosomal aggregates. This review is about the clinical features, histopathological features and differential diagnosis of GCA and also adds the theories for occurrence of granularity, electron microscopic findings, cell signaling pathways and immunohistochemistry findings related to these granular cells in GCA.

Granular cell ameloblastoma - A rare entity with recurrence after 48 years

“…The “granular change” is reported to happen due to a dysfunctional status of neoplastic cells, and the pathogenesis of this tumor seems to be age-related. [ 4 5 ] However, whether the granular cell change in ameloblastoma is a degenerative process or a harbinger of a more aggressive course remains unclear. [ 6 ]…”

Ameloblastoma with distinctive granular cell pattern: An 8case study

“…These cells are usually stellate reticulum-like and present very coarse, granular and eosinophilic cytoplasm. The “granular change” is reported to happen due to a dysfunctional status of neoplastic cells, and the pathogenesis of this tumor seems to be age-related 6 , 8 , 9…”

“…These cells typically appear within the central area of ameloblastic tumor follicles, progressively replacing the stellate reticulum, which may also extend to the peripheral columnar or cuboidal cells 2. The granular cell can vary from the most common round shape to cuboidal, columnar or angular, in which the nuclei are pyknotic and hyperchromatic, and the cytoplasm is filled with acidophilic granules, identified as lysosomal aggregates 2 , 8. The presence of granular cells represents either a transitional or matured stage in the life cycle of ameloblastomas.…”

Granular Cell Ameloblastoma: Retrospective Clinical and Histopathological Findings of Case Series and Review of Literature

“…These cells are usually stellate reticulum-like and present very coarse, granular and eosinophilic cytoplasm. The "granular change" is reported to happen due to a dysfunctional status of neoplastic cells, and the pathogenesis of this tumor seems to be age-related [5,7,8]. This granular change in classic ameloblastoma is a well-recognized phenomenon that was first seen by Krompecher in 1918, when the tumor cells were then called pseudo xanthomatous cells.…”

“…These cells appear typically within the central area of ameloblastic tumor follicles, progressively replacing the stellate reticulum, which may also extend to the peripheral columnar or cuboidal cells [2]. The granular cell shape can vary from the most common round to cuboidal, columnar or angular, in which the nuclei are pyknotic and hyper chromatic and the cytoplasm is filled with acidophilic granules, identified as lysosomal aggregates [2,7]. The presence of granular cells represents either a transitional or a matured stage in the life cycle of ameloblastomas.…”