Granular cell lesions of the mouth

Granular cell tumor of the tongue: Report of a case

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is a benign lesion characterized by the accumulation of plump cells with abundant granular cytoplasm. The formation of a granular cell tumor is a neoplastic process and the lesions formed are of neural derivation, as supported by immunophenotypic and ultra structural evidence. This type of tumor has been found to be both benign and malignant although malignancy is rare and comprises only 2% of all granular cell tumors. Here we report a case of GCT in a 40 year old male patient on the posterolateral border of tongue.

Alveolar and extra-alveolar granular cell lesions of the newborn: report of case and review of literature

Multiple congenital granular cell lesions occurring on the maxillary alveolar ridge and ventral aspect of the tongue were identified in a 22-day-old girl. The prevalence, histogenesis, and treatment of this lesion are discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Congenital Epulis of the Newborn

Congenital epulis of the newborn occurs more often in females than males and involves the maxilla more often than the mandible. The major theories of the origin of this lesion are discussed, and a case is presented along with a 7-year follow-up evaluation.

Granular cells associated with the enamel organ of a developing tooth

An accumulation of granular cells associated with the enamel organ of a developing deciduous, incisor tooth was noted during light microscopy (LM) of serial sections from the right half of a mandible from a stillborn, female infant of 37 weeks gestations. There was a break in continuity of the enamel matrix associated with the focus of granular cells, which appeared to be continuous with, and arise directly from, the cells of the stratum intermedium. The granular cells were very similar histologically to those of a congenital epulis but it is impossible to say whether the lesion would have developed sufficiently to present clinically as an epulis. Less probably, the granular cells might eventually have been associated with the subsequent development of a granular cell ameloblastoma or ameloblastic fibroma. If the lesion does represent an early stage in the formation of a congenital epulis, it would support the odontogenic theory of origin of the granular cells.

Oral granular cell lesions. An immunohistochemical study with emphasis on intermediate-sized filaments proteins

Six cases of oral granular cell lesions were studied with respect to intermediate-sized filaments (IF), peanut lectin binding (PNL) and muramidase activity by means of the peroxidase antiperoxidase technique. The tumours included three granular cell myoblastomas of the tongue (GCM) two cases of congenital gingival granular cell tumour (CGGT) and one granular cell ameloblastoma (GCA). Every tumour studied showed intracytoplasmic PNL binding whereas muramidase was negative in all cases. Vimentin expression was demonstrated in the CGGT and to a lesser extent in the GCM, but was absent in the GCA which was positive for keratin. Desmin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were not present in any of the lesions. These data demonstrate that PNL binding might be considered to be a common feature of granular cells regardless of their histogenesis. Lysosomes are supposed to represent the intracellular binding sites for this marker. Moreover it is shown that histomorphological identity between the granular cells of CGGT and GCA does not signify identity in histogenesis since the former are of mesenchymal derivation while the latter, from their intermediate filament protein types appear to originate from epithelium.

Congenital epulis of the newborn

Two cases of Congenital Epulis of the Newborn, one treated by surgical removal, the other conservatively, are presented. In both patients the dentition erupted normally and although after five years a residual swelling remains in the patient treated conservatively, it is asymptomatic. It is suggested that the natural history of the congenital epulis is one of regression, and no treatment is required unless the lesion causes feeding or respiratory problems.

Ultrastructural study of granular cell ameloblastoma

A granular cell ameloblastoma occurring in the anterior mandible of a 49-year-old woman has been studied both histologically and ultrastructurally. Histologically the tumor in this case showed a mixed type of follicular, granulal cell, and acanthomatous type of ameloblastoma. Many granular cells seemed to gather around the periphery of each tumor island. Electron-microscopically the cytoplasmic granules were measured as approximately 0.6 mu in diameter, and were surrounded by limiting membrane. Most of these granules revealed high electron density and their contents showed various patterns--osmiophilic homogeneous, fingerprint, and small particles--and were identified as lysosomes. However, no enamel matrix precursor was identified in either lysosome or cytoplasm. All the granular cells showed regular nuclei and no degeneration. Though lysosomes might play a role of autophagy and of remodeling the cytoplasm, its presence seems to have an active function in tumor cells, as opposed to the aging or degenerating function.

Congenital granular-cell tumor of alveolar ridge and tongue. Report of two cases

Granular-cell tumors in the oral cavity occur primarily on the tongue (myoblastoma) in adults and on the gum pads (congenital epulis) in infants. Because of the usual location and age, these histologically and histochemically similar tumors have been separate clinical entities. These case reports, however, report the concurrence of both clinical entities in the same patient. A 7-day-old female infant had a 1 cm. epulis on the right anterior maxilla and two 1.5 mm. masses on the anterior ventrum of the tongue. A 12-day-old girl had a 1 cm. epulis on the anterior mandible and two 1.5 mm. masses on the anterior tongue near the tip. In both cases, all lesions were histologically and histochemically similar and were granular-cell tumors. This suggests a relationship in the origin of these entities and tends to rule out an odontogenic origin for the epulis.