Malignant Granular Cell Myoblastoma.

Abstract

A case of malignant myoblastoma is reported: this tumor, the precise nature of which is still uncertain, is rarely observed. The case of our patient, a woman of 51, seems to have all the necessary qualifications for classification as a malignant myoblastoma, whose peculiarities are regular and constant granularity of the cells and nuclear alterations (hyperchromatism, monstrosities). The authors agree with Mackenzie and Gamboa, who state that the number of true malignant myoblastomas is smaller than would appear from the literature, as tumors that are really soft tissue alveolar sarcomas and sarcomas are not acceptable. From the clinical point of view the authors draw attention to the fact that the site of malignant myoblastomas is quite different from that of the benign form, which usually affects the tongue or head. Moreover, the frequent involvement of lymph-nodes in the cases quoted in the literature suggests a clinical behavior which is not common for sarcomatous tumors.