Taste of variety as a rural general surgeon: granular cell tumour of the tongue, a case report

Granular cell tumour (GCT) is a relatively rare, benign tumour. The cells of a GCT are composed of large polygonal cells containing numerous eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm and are thought to be of neural origin. GCT can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly it is located on the tongue. GCT possess the potential for malignant transformation, and as such should be resected; the risk of malignant transformation is estimated to be 1%-2%. Patients generally do not require routine follow-up following excision with clear margins. Here, we present a case of a GCT of the tongue which had been present for 4 years in an otherwise healthy 35-year-old male. The lesion had been stable in size and appearance, and the patient was asymptomatic. An incision biopsy of the lesion revealed findings consistent with a GCT, and the patient underwent a wide local excision shortly after incision biopsy.