Publications

Case Reports Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 42077696 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.106226

Unusual Location of a Cutaneous Granular Cell Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Cureus 18(3):e106226

Authors: Maha El Maati, Nawfal Fejjal, Cédric Lenormand, Mouna Rimani, Laila Benzekri

Affiliations

  • Dermatology, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat, MAR.
  • Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Mohammed V University, Rabat, MAR.
  • Dermatology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, FRA.
  • Pathology, Hassan Pathology Center, Rabat, MAR.

Abstract

Granular cell tumor (GCT), or Abrikossoff's tumor, is an uncommon neurogenic neoplasm originating from Schwann cells. While predominantly benign and frequently found in the head and neck, its clinical and radiological presentation can mimic more aggressive soft tissue sarcomas. We report the case of a 65-year-old female patient presenting with a firm, slow-growing mass in the right submammary fold. The biopsy revealed polygonal cells with granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed diffuse S100 protein positivity and CD34 negativity, confirming a cutaneous GCT. The tumor exhibited infiltrative growth patterns with involved margins, perineural tracking and vascular invasion that defined an atypical tumor according to Fanburg-Smith criteria. A wide excision with 1 cm margins was made to achieve a complete resection with uneventful follow up. GCT is often known as a "great mimicker" due to its ability to simulate malignancies. Given the high local recurrence rate (20-40% for margin-positive or infiltrative lesions), GCTs necessitate wide-margin excision.

MeSH

Cells, Immunohistochemistry, Neoplasms, Sarcoma, Granular Cell Tumor, Dermatofibrosarcoma