[Present status of granular cell tumors. Apropos of 8 new cases with tracheobronchial localization]

The authors report 8 new cases of granular cell tumour of Abrikossoff's tumour located in the trachea or bronchus. After briefly recalling the generally accepted features of this disease, they report several new aspects: the obviously under-estimated frequency, the absence of progression, requiring therapeutic abstention and regular follow-up, the epidemiological problems posed by the association with chronic bronchitis or the coexistence with a malignant bronchial tumour, the uncertainties which still surround the histogenesis, which is partly mesenchymal and partly nervous tissue, more particularly Schwann cells, which can be supported by ultrastructural arguments.