Symptomatic Parasellar Granular Cell Tumors

Abstract

Six cases of symptomatic parasellar granular cell tumor (pituicytoma, myoblastoma, choristoma) are reported. The clinical presentations included visual loss, dementia, and adenohypophyseal insufficiency. Lack of calcification and a suprasellar blush on angiography often help to differentiate these lesions from craniopharyngioma, pituitary adenoma, and optic glioma. These are the first cases studied by computed tomographic scan, which shows a high density, sharply demarcated lesion in the suprasellar region with dense, frequently homogeneous contrast enhancement. At operation these are characteristically tough, nonsuckable, vascular tumors. All previously reported patients with long survival (seven cases) have been contacted recently. The data do not support a role for postoperative radiation therapy. The surgical goal should be limited to decompression of the suprasellar if total excision seems too hazardous.

A case of atypical granular cell tumor of the neurohypophysis

“…21,45 Immunohistochemical studies on neurohypophysial GCT, the histogenesis of which is reliably understood, are still limited. 2,3,19,22,25,26,31,33,43 Most neurohypophysial GCT revealed immunopositivity for S-100 protein, 2,19,25,26,33 as shown in the present case. The presence of GFAP, which is normally expressed in the pituicytes, 37,50 has been controversial.…”

“…The presence of GFAP, which is normally expressed in the pituicytes, 37,50 has been controversial. Becker and Wilson 3 described strong GFAP immunoreactivity in neurohypophysial GCT. They also found ultrastructurally numerous intracytoplasmic filaments in the tumors.…”

A case of symptomatic granular cell tumor of the sellar region with large calcification

“…On the other hand, calcification of GCT is apparently very rare and could therefore help to distinguish GCT from craniopharyngioma. 1,2 However, the present case showed a large calcification. To date, only three cases of GCT with calcification have been reported, 3-5 but there has been no report clearly demonstrating a large calcification as in the present case.…”

“…The tumor thus lacks known disease‐specific clinical symptoms, and preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. On the other hand, calcification of GCT is apparently very rare and could therefore help to distinguish GCT from craniopharyngioma . However, the present case showed a large calcification.…”

Morphological and immunohistochemical characterization of granular cells in non‐hypophyseal tumours of the central nervous system

“…Rarely, GCT also arise in the nervous system. The most common intracranial site is the region of the infundibulum [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] . However, GCT can be found in cranial and peripheral nerves 5,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] as well as within cerebral hemispheres [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] (Table 1).…”