Granular cell tumor of the esophagus

Granular cell tumor is an uncommon lesion which is usually seen in the tongue, skin and breast. It has rarely been noted in the esophagus, this case being the 16th in the literature. Eleven of these patients had tumors removed at operation and four were found at postmortem examination. The tumor appears to be benign in character, although one case has been reported with metastases. Granular cell tumors of the esophagus should be surgically removed and may require wide excision because of fixation of the mucosa. The pathological characteristics of this tumor are reviewed.