Rare Benign Disorders of the Breast

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Granular Cell Tumors

Granular cell tumors are rare but important because they can simulate carcinoma. Patients can present with a palpable mass with associated fixity to skin or underlying muscle.

Radiology
It can be difficult on mammography to differentiate granular cell tumors from carcinoma. Diagnosis is made on histology.

Pathology
Macroscopic Appearance
These tumors may be well circumscribed or appear infiltrative. They are usually creamy white in color and of a firm, sometimes gritty consistency.

Microscopic Appearance
The appearances are identical to those seen in other sites with clusters of plump cells with uniform, dark nuclei and abundant granular, pink cytoplasm. The cell clusters are set in a scanty stroma.

Management
Wide-local excision is the treatment of choice. Granular cell tumors are invariably benign, but rare cases of malignant granular cell tumors have been reported in the literature.

A.D. Purushotham, P. Britton and L. Bobrow
A prospective study of benign breast disease and the risk of breast cancer. JAMA 2002

References

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Breast Cancer Prevention   Breast Abscess   Screening Mammography   Using Breast Density to Predict Breast Cancer Risk   Hormone Receptor Sites   Role of High-Dose Chemotherapy for High-Risk Breast Cancer   Radiation treatment for breast cancer   Carcinoma of the Female Breast   Possible mechanisms linking obesity to breast cancer   Disease Burden - Screening for Breast Cancer   Surgery for Pure DCIS   Epithelial Hyperplasia   Benign Breast Diseases   Sclerosing Adenosis   Orthotopic Tissue Interactions   Surgery for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer   Breast cancer and the postmenopausal woman   Breast Imaging   Curative Treatment   Alternative Interventions for Management of Menopause   Early Detection of Breast Cancer: Summary   Breast Pain

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