J Korean Soc Radiol.  2018 Nov;79(5):259-263. 10.3348/jksr.2018.79.5.259.

A Case of Granular Cell Tumor of the Breast in a Male Patient

• Lee GE
• Kim JY
• Kim JH
• Jeong MJ
• Kim SH
• Kim SH
• Kang MJ
• Lee JH
• Bae KE
• Kim TG

• KMID: 2422902
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2018.79.5.259

Abstract

A 52-year-old male complained of a painless, firm, and slow-growing mass in his right breast outer portion. The chest CT revealed a 3.3 cm-sized oval shaped, microlobulated, mild enhancing mass. Ultrasound showed a microlobulated marginated heterogeneous hypoechoic mass with internal vascularity and calcifications in the mass. On the ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy, the mass was confirmed as a benign granular cell tumor (GCT). The patient transferred to another hospital and underwent surgical removal of the lesion. GCT of the breast is uncommon and mostly benign neoplasm to originate from Schwann cell. Clinical and radiologic features of GCTs, including CT and ultrasound images, mimic malignancy and make diagnosis of GCT more difficult. The CT images of GCTs are much rarely reported. Physicians and radiologists must be aware of radiologic characteristics of this rare benign tumor for male breast, to avoid misdiagnosis this tumor for breast malignancy and overtreat.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Large-Core Needle
Breast Neoplasms, Male
Breast*
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Errors
Granular Cell Tumor*
Humans
Male*
Middle Aged
S100 Proteins
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography, Mammary
S100 Proteins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 52-year-old male patient with a palpable mass on the right breast outer portion. Pathology analysis revealed a granular cell tumor. A. Axial view contrast-enhanced chest CT image shows approximately 3.3 cm-sized oval shaped mild enhancing soft tissue density mass (white arrow) with microlobulated margin (small yellow arrow) in right breast. Skin thickening is also seen and the mass is close contact with right pectoralis major muscle. B–D. Sonographic image (B) shows a 3.5 cm-sized oval shaped, microlobulated marginated, heterogeneous hypoechoic mass at palpable site of Rt. breast outer portion. Another image (C) shows calcifications (arrows) in the mass and microlobulated margin. Color Doppler examination (D) shows increased vascularity in the mass. No significant lymphadenopathy was seen in both axilla. E, F. Tumor cells show cytologically bland nuclei and abundant cytoplasm with indistinct cell borders (E, hematoxylin and eosin stain, × 200). On The immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells reveal diffuse positive reaction for S100 protein (F, immunohistochemistry stain × 200).

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