Recurrent granular cell tumor of the thyroid: a case report and literature review

• Published in: BMC surgery Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 154 - 5
• Main Authors: He, Yu-qin, Lu, Hai-zhen, Li, De-zhi, Chen, Mo-qi, Wang, Kai, Xu, Zhen-gang, Liu, Shao-yan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 14.07.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Case Report; Case reports; Case studies; Cytoplasm; Desmin; Female; Granular cell tumor; Granular Cell Tumor - diagnosis; Granular Cell Tumor - surgery; Humans; Larynx; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Literature reviews; Male; Metastasis; Nerve tissue proteins; Patients; Prognosis; Recurrence (Disease); Recurrent; S100 protein; Surgery; Thyroid; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Neoplasms - diagnosis; Thyroid Neoplasms - surgery; Tumor cells; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging; Young Adult; Granular cell tumor; Recurrent; Thyroid
• ISSN: 1471-2482; 1471-2482
• DOI: 10.1186/s12893-020-00814-8

Granular cell tumor (GCT) of the thyroid is a rare benign tumor of Schwann cell origin with a favorable prognosis and only 10 cases have been reported so far in scientific literature. The present case study describes the first case of recurrent thyroid GCT. Our case describes a 20-year-old woman who had undergone lobectomy for GCT of the thyroid 4 years ago. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining revealed that the lesion was composed of epithelioid cells with an abundance of eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that tumor cells tested positive for S-100 protein and negative for desmin. Both histological and immunohistochemical analyses supported the diagnosis of recurrent GCT of the thyroid. Our case suggested that a tumor-free margin excision and post-operative follow-up are necessary for the treatment of GCT of the thyroid.