Case Report: Granular cell tumor of the axillary tail mimicking node-positive breast carcinoma — two cases with imaging–pathology correlation - Report - MDSpire

Case Report: Granular cell tumor of the axillary tail mimicking node-positive breast carcinoma — two cases with imaging–pathology correlation

  • By

  • Yuming Shao

  • Yang Xu

  • Shasha Song

  • Hao Lin

  • Jie Zhang

  • June 11, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Axillary Tail Granular Cell Tumor Resembling Node-Positive Breast Carcinoma

Overview

This report details two cases of granular cell tumors of the breast (GCTB) that presented with imaging features mimicking invasive breast carcinoma. The findings underscore the importance of preoperative core needle biopsy to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.

Background

Incorporate statistics on misdiagnosis rates to highlight the need for accurate diagnosis.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the article.

Key Findings

  • GCTB can present as BI-RADS 5 lesions, leading to high suspicion for malignancy.
  • Case 1 involved a 53-year-old woman with a 2.5-cm axillary tail mass, ultimately diagnosed as benign GCTB.
  • Case 2 involved a 38-year-old woman with a 0.9-cm breast nodule, confirmed as benign GCTB via biopsy.
  • Both patients remained disease-free at follow-up periods of 12 and 36 months.
  • Preoperative core needle biopsy is recommended to differentiate GCTB from invasive carcinoma.
  • Histological features include S-100 positivity and absence of cytokeratin expression, aiding in diagnosis.

Clinical Implications

Detail the significance of immunohistochemistry in differentiating GCTB from malignancies.

Conclusion

These cases highlight the critical need for accurate preoperative diagnosis of GCTB to avoid mismanagement and ensure appropriate treatment pathways.

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