Multiple granular cell tumors of the tongue and parotid gland

Parotid granular cell tumor (GCT) is a very rare tumor, with only 11 previously reported cases in the English-language literature. This report describes an uncommon case of multiple GCT involving the tongue and parotid gland and provides a review of the literature. A 58-year-old woman presented with a slow-growing mass involving the parotid region, which measured 3.0 cm in diameter. In addition, during the oral exam a submucosal painless nodule was detected sited in the tongue apex. Right superficial parotidectomy with conservation of the facial nerve and excision of the tongue nodule were performed. Histologically, both oral and parotid lesions were composed of cells with large eosinophilic and granular cytoplasm, which presented strong positivity for S-100 protein and negativity for cytokeratin, confirming the diagnosis of multicentric GCT. Multiple GCT involving tongue and parotid are very rare and are successfully treated by surgical excision. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009;107:e10-e13)