Granular cell tumour of the oesophagus: a rare cause of dysphagia with differential diagnosis of oesophageal neoplastic lesions

Abstract

Granular cell tumour is a relatively uncommon, typically benign neoplasm of soft tissue. The macroscopic appearance of oesophageal granular cell tumour is a polypoid lesion, which is often asymptomatic and can be found incidentally, but, in some cases, is symptomatic and requires a correct differential diagnosis with malignant neoplasms of the oesophagus. We describe the case of a 28-year-old female who came to our attention due to a six-month history of heartburn and dysphagia. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy showed the presence of a polypoid lesion 2 cm above the gastro-oesophageal junction. The overlying mucosa was normal and the lesion seemed to be an isolated submucosal nodule with a “submucosal pill” appearance. It was excised completely using a standard diathermic snare, and diagnosis of oesophageal granular cell tumour was made by histological and immunohistochemical staining. The patient's symptoms disappeared immediately after removal of the nodule by endoscopic polypectomy, and no macroscopic or microscopic recurrence of granular cell tumour was noted during follow-up. Likewise, the patient was symptom-free during follow-up. This case shows that endoscopy is very effective, not only in the diagnosis, but also in the treatment of oesophageal lesions which require careful differential diagnosis.