Tracheal and bronchial granular cell tumours: A French retrospective study on 30 patients

Introduction: Granular cell tumours (GCT, or Abrikossoff tumours) are rare, usually benign tumours, arising from Schwann cells. Tracheal and/or bronchial involvement has been rarely described. The objective of this study is to describe population characteristics, clinical and bronchoscopic data, as well as therapeutic options for bronchial or tracheal GCTs. Methods: All of the French cases of tracheal or bronchial GCT were included, and data were retrospectively collected. Results: Thirty-five cases of proximal GCT, including 10 tracheal and 25 bronchial lesions, in 30 patients were reported between 1994 and 2013. GCTs were more frequent in males (sex ratio = 1,5), the age at diagnosis was 48 y. (13–76 y.). Synchronous lung carcinoma was found in 3 patients (10%). Tumour diameter was higher in tracheal (23,8 mm) vs bronchial (9,8 mm) GCTs. The macroscopic aspect during bronchoscopy was usually a white, well-limited lesion without hypervascularization. Treatment information was not available for 7 patients. Seven other patients did not receive any treatment. Local treatment was performed in 12 patients, usually by mechanic resection combined with thermocoagulation. Complete endoscopic resection was obtained in 9/12 patients (75%). Surgery was performed in 4 patients (2 for suspected lung cancer ; one because of tracheal stenosis ; unavailable surgery indication for one patient), with complete resection. There was no recurrence of GCT during a median follow-up of 19 months. Conclusion: This is the largest series on proximal GCTs, which suggests that, when resection is needed, endoscopic treatment enables complete resection in most of the cases and appears as a reasonable first line treatment.