Multiple granular-cell tumors of the ascending colon

Abstract

Light and electron microscopic study of a case of multiple granular-cell tumor of the ascending colon is presented, and the relevant medical literature is reviewed. It seems that the biologic behavior of this tumor in the colon does not differ from that in other locations. Histologically, a few granular cells are seen in neural tissue in the vicinity of the tumor, suggesting a close relation of the tumor to the neural tissue. Electron-microscopically, the granular cells resemble Schwann cells more closely than neural cells and axons. Histochemically, the granules of the tumor cells show autofluorescence and high activity of acid phosphatase, which was located electron-microscopically in the limiting membranes and matrices of the granules. It is suggested that the granular-cell tumor is a neoplasm of Schwann-cell origin with a unique metabolism that causes acceleration of autophagocytosis and accumulation of ceroidlipofuscin.

Granular cell tumors: a report of six cases

“…They account for an incidence of 0.5% among soft tissue tumors, and it has been reported that they primarily occur in or beneath the skin, or in the submucosa of the tongue, throat, chest wall, or bronchus. The tumor is commonly found in those aged 10 to 50 years old, and more often in women than in men [3,8-11]. Granular cell tumor of the breast is largely a disease affecting women, as it is with other breast malignancies, but has also been described in men, accounting for 6.6% of granular cell tumor of the breast [12].…”

Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Granular Cell Tumor Using S-100 Immunostain

“…In addition, GCTs have been reported to stain positively with other immunostains such as protein gene product 9.5, 75 kDa nerve growth factor receptor, NK1/C3, trk gene product, phosphotyrosine, neuron‐specific enolase, myelin basic protein, vimentin, KP1 (CD68) and Leu 7 (CD57) 1,6–10 . Other special stains reported to be positive in GCTs are periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS), Masson's trichrome, Luxal fast blue, Mallory's basic fuchsin, and Sudan black 7,14,16,18 …”

Isolated and Synchronous Vulvar Granular Cell Tumors: A Clinicopathologic Study of 17 Cases in 13 Patients

“…The most common location was the left labium majus (6 of 17). Ten patients (77%) had only a single vulvar GCT whereas 3 patients had multifocal GCTs (two patients had 2, and one had 3). No patient in this series died from her disease.…”

“…Most commonly, they present in the tongue in middle-age patients, but also occur in other anatomic locations, including the vulva (2,3). In part on account of the specialized hormone-sensitive properties of the subepithelial soft tissues in the vulvo-vaginal region, vulvar soft tissue tumors manifest as a wide histopathologic spectrum of entities generally regarded as specific to the region (4)(5)(6).…”