The granular cell tumor was first described in 1926. Recently, it has been suggested that the tumor is Schwann cell in origin, and this notion has been supported by electron microscopic studies and immunohistochemistry of the S-100 protein. The most frequently involved organs include the tongue, skin, breast, and digestive tract. The esophagus is rarely involved. The treatment of choice for an esophageal granular cell tumor is still controversial. The traditional treatment has been surgical excision, but new therapeutic options, including laser surgery, diathermy loop, and multiple biopsies have recently been tried. An endoscopic esophageal mucosal resection (EEMR) tube, originally designed for resection of early esophageal cancer, is widely used nowadays. A case of a granular cell tumor of the esophagus, which was successfully removed by an EEMR tube, is herein reported.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Diathermy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laser Therapy ; S100 Proteins ; Skin ; Tongue