Congenital granular cell tumor of the tongue

Granular cell lesions in the oral cavity occur primarily on the tongue in adults (granular cell tumor) and exclusively on the alveolar ridge in newborns (congenital granular cell epulis). Because of the location, age of appearance, and certain clinical and histologic differences, these histologically similar lesions are considered separate clinical entities. This case report, however, describes the occurrence of a granular cell lesion on the tongue of a newborn. Although the etiopathogenesis of these lesions is unknown, the present case suggests a common etiologic relationship of these entities and tends to rule out an odontogenic origin for the congenital granular cell epulis.