UNIQUE PRESENTATION OF A GRANULAR-CELL TUMOR AS A PARATRACHEAL MASS

An unusual presentation of a granular cell tumor is reported with a re view of the natural history and pathologic characteristics of this tum or. Our patient was asymptomatic and presented with a mass in the infe rior right neck on routine physical examination. Preoperative radiolog ic evaluation suggested a parathyroid adenoma but the normal parathorm one level was inconsistent with this diagnosis. At surgery, a firm mas s was identified inferior to the right lobe of the thyroid gland and w as found to represent a granular cell tumor densely adherent to the tr achea. This case demonstrates a unique presentation for this relativel y rare neoplasm which was treated with complete surgical resection.