Granular cell tumor of the tongue: A rare case report

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a rare benign neoplasm that can appear in any site of the body, but most are located intraorally especially the tongue. It is a tumor of uncertain origin. Literature suggests that GCT has been associated to skeletal muscle, histiocytes, fibroblasts, myoepithelium, and nerve cell connective tissue origin. Today, following the introduction of immunohistochemistry, the hypothesis of neural origin has been more widely accepted. The GCT typically presents as a small solitary, slow growing, sessile, asymptomatic firm mucosal nodule with a smooth surface. Although majority of GCTs are benign, malignant form has been reported in 2% of cases. Even though it is a rare lesion, it must be included in differential diagnosis of oral lesions which are clinically similar to GCT for timely diagnosis and treatment. A rare case of GCT of the tongue in a 41 year old female with the emphasis on importance of a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment is reported in this article.