Congenital Granular Cell Tumour of the Oral Cavity Causing Sucking and Feeding Difficulties in a Newborn

Congenital granular cell tumors (CGCT) in newborns are rare benign tumors, growing on the alveolar ridge of the maxillary bone in newborns, mostly seen in females. Localization in the oral cavity can cause serious sucking problems resulting in nutritional difficulties and respiratory distress. Case is here presented of a female infant with a birth weight of 2,900 g born at 39 weeks gestation age with vaginal delivery. On physical examination, a lesion was observed 50x30x20 mm in size on the alveolar ridge of the maxillary bone protruding from the mouth. In the follow-up, infant experienced nutritional and breastfeeding problems but no respiratory distress. Tumor required surgery because it didn't regress spontaneously and was causing the nutritional deficiency. Early surgical intervention of such cases may prevent future sucking and feeding problems. In addition, CGCT seen in newborns is histopathologically different from adults, as it isn't immunoreactive for S-100 protein.