Multiple cutaneous granular cell tumors: case report of a 19-year-old African American female.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.