A rare case of malignant granular cell tumor of the cheek in a 16-year-old child: a case report

Mohanad Saleh; Husein Ahmad Sarahneh; Sara Ibrahim Hroub; Laila Khader Diab; Taha Mohammad Elatawneh; Saida Basem Wredat; Amal Nasr Abubaker

doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001077

A rare case of malignant granular cell tumor of the cheek in a 16-year-old child: a case report

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Jul 24;85(9):4581-4585. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001077. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Mohanad Saleh^{1

2}, Husein Ahmad Sarahneh², Sara Ibrahim Hroub², Laila Khader Diab², Taha Mohammad Elatawneh², Saida Basem Wredat², Amal Nasr Abubaker²

Affiliations

¹ Dura Hospital.
² College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are uncommon soft tissue tumors, predominantly benign lesions. Approximately 50% occur in the tongue, with a peak incidence in the fifth and sixth decades of life. However, in this case, a rare presentation of GCTs on the cheek of a 16-year-old young female, including a review of the literature.

Methods: The medical records and histopathological slides of the case were retrospectively reviewed. This work has been reported based on Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) criteria.

Case presentation: A 16-year-old female presented with a non-painful exophytic and pigmented cheek lesion that is rapidly growing. A primary concern was expressed as cosmetic in nature, a biopsy of the mass was taken, and histopathological findings showed a malignant tumor, mostly consistent with GCTs. She was recommended to have a total excision of the mass. During follow-up, facial MRI findings indicate granulation tissue versus recurrent/residual tumor at the site of surgery, without any evidence of cancer metastasis or spread.

Clinical discussion: GCT is a tumor of Schwann cells, which is mostly benign with a 2% risk of malignant transformation. The peak incidence of this tumor is around the age of 50, and it is uncommon in young individuals. Clinically, GCT presents as a single, asymptomatic dermal or subcutaneous, brown-red nodule or papule, which grows slowly with diameter ranging from 0.5 to 3 cm. The definitive treatment for both benign and malignant GCTs is sufficient local excision with safe margins.

Conclusion: GCT is an extremely rare tumor, with a peak incidence of fifth and sixth decay of age, which usually appear in the tongue (50% of cases); however, in this case, we present a 16-year-old female with a cheek mass diagnosed as GCT. In short, we think that GCT should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of solitary facial masses at young ages.

Keywords: case report; cheek; malignant granular cell tumor; malignant skin lesions; young.

Publication types

Case Reports