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Granular Cell Tumor of the Posterior Tibial Nerve as a Rare Cause of Heel Pain

A Case Report

Yunus Dogramaci, MD ^*, Aydiner Kalaci, MD ^*, Teoman Toni Sevinc, MD ^*, Sibel Hakverdi, MD , Serefettin Canda, MD  and Ahmet Nedim Yanat, MD ^*

^* Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
Department of Pathology, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.

Corresponding author: Yunus Dogramaci, MD, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Tayfur Atasokmen Tip Fakultesi, Antakya, Hatay, 31100 Turkey. (E-mail: yunus_latif{at}yahoo.com)

Abstract

Granular cell tumor of peripheral nerves is extremely rare. We present the case of a patient with a well-capsulated intraneural granular cell tumor involving the posterior tibial nerve, who presented with chronic heel pain mimicking plantar fasciitis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-defined intraneural soft-tissue mass within the substance of the posterior tibial nerve. Histopathologic examination showed a granular cell tumor, which is extremley rare in the peripheral nerves. Heel pain is one of the common conditions handled by physicians, podiatrists, and orthopedic surgeons. Posterior tibial nerve lesions at the leg should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients with persistent heel and foot pain. Magnetic resonance imaging is a useful method in the anatomical evaluation of focal intraneural lesions. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 99(3): 254–257, 2009)