title: Morphologic spectrum, immunohistochemical analysis, and clinical features of a series of granular cell tumors of soft tissues: a study from a tertiary referral cancer center.
abstract: A granular cell tumor (GCT) is relatively uncommon and objectively diagnosed with neural markers on immunohistochemistry (IHC). Recent studies have described additional markers for a GCT. Herein, we present morphologic spectrum of 12 GCTs of soft tissues and skin, including 10 benign and 2 malignant subtypes with an optimal diagnostic IHC panel. Eleven cases occurred in women and 1 in a man, with a mean age of 45.5 years. Six cases occurred in soft tissues and skin of extremities, 4 in the breast soft tissues, and 1 case each in the back and preauricular region, respectively. Cytologic smears in 2 cases displayed polygonal cells with abundant, eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm. On histopathology, all cases invariably revealed a nonencapsulated infiltrating tumor comprising groups and nests of granular cells with vesicular nuclei. In 5 cases, granular cells were noted in close proximity to the nerves. Two malignant GCTs revealed necrosis, mitoses, and nuclear atypia. Immunohistochemistry in 10 cases (83.3%) showed diffuse S-100 positivity in all 7 benign and 2 malignant cases: cytoplasmic CD68 positivity (all 10 cases) and membranous vimentin staining (all 4 cases). Inhibin showed cytoplasmic positivity in 3 of 6 cases. A single malignant GCT showed focal desmin reactivity. All were surgically managed. A GCT is a discrete tumor entity and can be identified from other granular lesions by its proximity to nerves and objective identification with diffuse S-100 positivity, CD68 positivity, and membranous vimentin positivity that form an optimal IHC panel in limited resource settings, irrespective of benign or malignant types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. rekhi.bharat@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rekhi
authors.forename: Nirmala A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Jambhekar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016586:Granular Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule