Multiple Cutaneous Granular Cell Tumors: Case Report of a 19-Year-Old African American Female

Abstract

This is a somewhat rare case of a 19-year-old African American female with multiple cutaneous granular cell tumors. Granular cell tumors are of neural origin, except in rare cases, and are considered benign, with a low incidence of malignancy. The clinical presentation varies greatly, but these tumors are most commonly painful and slow growing, with two-thirds occurring on the head and neck. Patients are most commonly in their second to fourth decades of life, two-thirds are black, and two-thirds are women. Granular cell tumors are diagnosed by the characteristic pathologic findings of polygonal cells with eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. These tumors are most commonly singular but can be multiple in 10 to 15% of patients. Older patient age, rapid growth or enlargement, and a history of local recurrence should raise concern for malignant behavior. The distribution and family history in this case are suggestive of possible mosaicism.