Study of the immunoexpression of Bcl-2 by a cutaneous granular cell tumor.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous granular cell tumors have only rarely been examined for Bcl-2, a marker that is expressed by granular cell tumors from other parts of the body.


OBJECTIVE
We retrospectively studied three cases of cutaneous granular tumors from our archives.


METHODS
We immunohistochemically tested for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CD68 (KP1), Bcl-2, and S-100. In Cases 1 and 3, we also tested for CD34, HMB-45, and melan-A. In Case 3, we additionally tested for smooth muscle actin, CD68-PGM1, cytokeratin AE1-AE3, epithelial membrane antigen, desmin, CD1a, and CD117.


RESULTS
None of our cases presented any of the histological markers traditionally considered to be indicators of potential malignancy in granular cell tumors. All cases strongly expressed S-100, CD68, NSE, and Bcl-2. Case 3 also expressed CD68-PGM1. The rest of the markers were not expressed by the tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Bcl-2 is expressed by cutaneous granular cell tumors.
Fernandez-Flores
A
A
S. Patología Celular, Clinica Ponferrada, Avenida Galicia 1, Ponferrada, Spain. gpyauflowerlion@terra.es
Valerdiz
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D016586:Granular Cell Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology