GRANULAR CELL TUMOR OF THE BREAST -A CASE REPORT-

Abstract

Granular cell tumors are fairly common, but they seldom occur in the breast. A case of granular cell tumor of the breast in a 34-year-old woman is described. Physical examination showed a lump 1 cm in diameter in the lower inner quadrant of the left breast. Mammographic and echographic features strongly indicated breast cancer. Because aspiration biopsy cytology revealed Class III, an excisional biopsy was performed, and a diagnosis of granular cell tumor was made. Histologically the tumor cells showed abundant granular cytoplasm. On immunohistochemical stainings the granules were positive for PAS, NSE, and vimentin, but were negative for HHF35 and alpha-smooth muscle. The granular cell tumor presents difficulty in differential diagnosis from cancer without biopsy becasue of their mimicking clinical features. We surgeons have to avoid overdiagnosis and oversurgery.