Granular Cell Tumor

This 2-cm tumor presented as an abdominal wall mass thought to be an incisional hernia in a middle-aged woman. Hard, gritty, and with an infiltrating margin, this typical gross appearance of a granular cell tumor raises concern that one is dealing with a malignant neoplasm. Fortunately, the microscopic picture is characteristically benign, featuring cytologically bland cells with coarse, eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm. Granular cell tumors of the breast represent one of the few lesions that can impersonate an invasive breast cancer on gross examination.

This photograph was taken with a Minolta X-700 SLR and Sigma 50mm f/2.8 macro lens on Kodak Elite film, ISO 100, at f/5.6 for 1/8 sec.