Granular cell tumour of the larynx

Granular cell tumour (GCT) is a benign tumour with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm filled with granules of varying sizes. These granules are the defining characteristic of the GCT and are believed to represent lysosomes in varying stages of fragmentation. The commonly used term granular cell myoblastoma, found in the older literature, is a misnomer because the tumour is clearly not of muscle origin. Among the major theories of origin, some support the tumour's derivation from neuronal tissue, histiocytes, fibroblast or Schwann cells. In the larynx, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia may predispose to confuse the GCT with squamous cell carcinoma. The most common region of GCT is in the head and neck, accounting for approximately 30 to 50 per cent of all lesions. The larynx is relatively an uncommon location for these tumours, accounting for approximately three to 10 per cent of the reported cases. Affected patients typically present with persistent hoarseness, stridor, haemoptysis, dysphagia, and otalgia, but the tumour may be asymptomatic and be discovered only incidentally during a routine examination. Complete excision with an attempt to maintain normal structures generally results in cure. We present the case of a patient with typical features of a GCT of the larynx. The gross appearance, histopathology and brief discussion of the current literature are also presented.