Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T03:28:58.016Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Granular cell tumour of the larynx

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Luis V. Victoria ,
Henry T. Hoffman  and
Robert A. Robinson
Luis V. Victoria*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, USA.
Henry T. Hoffman
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, USA.
Robert A. Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: Luis V. Victoria M.D., 200 Hawhins Dr., Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242USA.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Granular cell tumour (GCT) is a benign tumour with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm filled with granules of varying sizes. These granules are the defining characteristic of the GCT and are believed to represent lysosomes in varying stages of fragmentation. The commonly used term granular cell myoblastoma, found in the older literature, is a misnomer because the tumour is clearly not of muscle origin. Among the major theories of origin, some support the tumour's derivation from neuronal tissue, histiocytes, fibroblast or Schwann cells. In the larynx, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia may predispose to confuse the GCT with squamous cell carcinoma.

The most common region of GCT is in the head and neck, accounting for approximately 30 to 50 per cent of all lesions. The larynx is relatively an uncommon location for these tumours, accounting for approximately three to 10 per cent of the reported cases.

Affected patients typically present with persistent hoarseness, stridor, haemoptysis, dysphagia, and otalgia, but the tumour may be asymptomatic and be discovered only incidentally during a routine examination.

Complete excision with an attempt to maintain normal stuctures generally results in cure.

We present the case of a patient with typical features of a GCT of the larynx. The gross appearance, histopathology and brief discussion of the current literature are also presented.

Keywords

LarynxLaryngeal neoplasmsGranuloma, laryngeal
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 4 , April 1998 , pp. 373 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abenoza, P., Sibley, R. K. (1987) Granular cell myoma and schwannoma: fine structural and immunohistochemical study. Ultrastructural Pathology 11: 1928–1934.Google Scholar
Buley, I. D., Gatter, K. C., Kelly, P. M. A. (1988) Granular cell tumours revisited. An immunohistological and ultrastructural study. Histopathology 12: 263–274.Google Scholar
Compagno, J., Hyams, V. J., St Marie, P. (1975) Benign granular cell tumors of the larynx. A review of 36 cases with clinicopathologic data. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 84: 308–314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dhillon, A. P., Rode, J. (1983) Immunohistochemical studies of S-100 protein and other neural characteristics expressed by granular cell tumor. Diagnostic Histopathology 6: 232–238.Google Scholar
Fliss, D. M., Puterman, M., Sirkin, H. (1989) Granular cell lesions in head and neck: A clinicopathological study. Journal of Surgery and Oncology 42: 152–160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frable, M. A., Fischer, R. A. (1976) Granular cell myoblastomas. Laryngoscope 86: 36–42.Google Scholar
Kenefick, C. (1978) Granular cell myoblastoma of the larynx. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 92: 521–524.Google Scholar
Mazur, M. T., Shultz, J. J., Myers, J. L. (1990) Granular cell tumor. Immunohistochemical analysis of 21 benign tumors and one malignant tumor. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 114: 692–696.Google Scholar
Mittal, K. R. (1988) True origin of granules in granular cell tumor. Intracellular myelin formation with autodigestion. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 112: 302–303.Google Scholar
Morrison, J. G., Gray, G. E., Dao, A. H. (1987) Granular cell tumors. Annals of Surgery 53: 156–160.Google Scholar
Noonan, J. D., Horton, C. E., Old, W. L. (1979) Granular cell myoblastoma of the head and neck. American Journal of Surgery 138: 611–613.Google Scholar
Smith, M. E. F., Costa, M. J., Weiss, S. W. (1991) Evaluation of CD68 and other histiocytic antigens in angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma. American Journal of Surgical Pathology 15: 757–763.Google Scholar
Thawley, S. E., Ogura, J. H. (1974) Granular cell myoblastoma of the head and neck. Southern Medical Journal 67: 1020–1024.Google Scholar
Troncoso, P., Ordonez, N. G., Raymond, A. K. (1988) Malignant granular cell tumor: immunocytochemical and ultrastructural observations. Ultrastructural Pathology 12: 137–144.Google Scholar