A Case of a Granular Cell Tumor

We herein report a case of a granular cell tumor at the nape of the neck of a 53-year-old female, Immunohistological studies showed the tumor cells to be positive for S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase (NSE), vimentin, α1-antichymotrypsin, and CD68, but negative forα-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and HHF-35. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that ultrastructurally the tumor cells had a basement membrane and lysosomal granules in their cytoplasm. Angulated bodies, which are usually seen in schwannoma, were observed scattered throughout the cytoplasm of some tumor cells. Some parts of the peripheral nervous system, including axons, were observed in the tumor. These results indicated that this tumor originated from a tissue consisting of schwann cells. Because these tumor cells were positive for α1-antichymotrypsin and CD68 an analysis of lysosomes will be central to all future pathological identification.