Oral granular cell tumor of the palate

Granular cell tumor is a uncommon disease, although head and neck region accounts for approximately 50% of all lesions, 70% are located in oral cavity but can occur at other site of the body. Clinically, it usually presents as a small, slow growing, non-tender, single benign lesion but mutifocal and malignant forms are rarely encountered. The histogenic origin of this tumor was controversial for many years but recent studies using immunohistochemical study support its origin being from neural cell, probably Schwann's cell. In this report, we present a case of benign granular cell tumor occurred on the hard palate studied by histologic and immunohistochemical assay, with review of literatures.