Authors: Sudeep Acharya, Shamsuddin Anwar, Kumar Thapa...

Glomus tumors, which account for less than 2% of soft tissue tumors, are a rare benign soft tissue neoplasm. They originated from neuro-myo-arterial glomus tissue whose primary function is regulation of the body temperature. This tissue is commonly located in the dermis or subcutis in the subungual region; however, it can be extracutaneous such as in bones, the genitourinary tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory tract. Histologically, a glomus tumor is made of proliferating rounded or cuboidal epithelioid cells in a meshwork of blood vessels. Although a benign growth, they can rarely show malignant features with infiltration of surrounding tissue with the rapid multiplication of cells in which case it is labeled as a malignant glomus tumor. Pulmonary glomus tumors are extremely rare and most commonly occur in middle-aged men. They are mostly asymptomatic, but a small percentage of patients may present with hemoptysis and cough if there is large airway involvement. We present an interesting case of a middle-aged man presenting with cough and occasional hemoptysis, found to have an endobronchial nodular lesion, and subsequently diagnosed with a pulmonary glomus tumor.

PubMed: 37292573
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38684

Authors: Sumitoj Singh, Ashok Kumar, Vikas Singh...

This case report describes glomus tumor of the stomach, a rare entity, which is a mesenchymal origin tumor. They are generally benign and account for nearly 1% of all gastrointestinal (GI) soft-tissue tumors. They are almost impossible to diagnose preoperatively because of the lack of specific characteristics and are often mistaken for GI stromal tumors (GISTs). In our hospital setup, a female aged 24 years, presented with right lumbar abdominal pain which after a thorough workup leads to the preoperative diagnosis of GIST, and distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-y anastomosis was done. However, pathological and immunohistochemical findings done after the surgery were found consistent with the diagnosis of gastric glomus tumor. Discovered on GIST-1 (DOG-1) nonreactivity is considered for the diagnosis of glomus tumor which helps in excluding the diagnosis of GIST, which is positive for DOG-1. Hence, it was concluded that differential diagnosis on the basis of immunohistochemical findings can lead to an accurate preoperative diagnosis and further targeted surgical intervention.

PubMed: 33223817
DOI: 10.4103/njs.NJS_8_19

Review

Authors: Zoltan Gombos, Paul J Zhang

Glomus tumor is a benign mesenchymal neoplasm comprising less than 2% of soft tissue tumors. It is composed of cells resembling modified smooth muscle cells of the normal glomus body. The glomus body, a thermoregulator, is a specialized form of arteriovenous anastomosis localized in dermal and precoccygeal soft tissue. Although glomus tumors are rare neoplasms, clinical misdiagnosis of many of these lesions as hemangiomas or venous malformations makes an accurate assessment of their actual prevalence difficult. A malignant counterpart of this lesion exists but is extremely rare.

Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Glomus Tumor; Humans; Soft Tissue Neoplasms

PubMed: 18788860
DOI: 10.5858/2008-132-1448-GT

Authors: Fevziye Kabukçuoğlu, Hanife Özkayalar, Damlanur Sakiz...

Glomus tumors showing nuclear pleomorphism without any other malignant features have been defined as symplastic glomus tumors. This type of glomus tumor is rarely encountered. Another case of symplastic glomus tumor is described in this study. A 37-year-old woman referred to the hospital with the complaint of a palpable tender nodule on the fourth finger tip of her left hand. The lesion had been present for about a year and aggravation of tenderness upon cold exposure was conspicuous. It was a 0.5 cm well circumscribed lesion with round to cuboidal epithelioid cells showing high grade nuclear pleomorphism. Nests of cells more uniform in shape and showing punched out nucleus representative of typical glomus tumor could also be observed. Immunohistochemical study showed expression of smooth muscle actin, caldesmon and vimentin. Ki-67 labeling index was undetectable. Investment of tumor cells was shown by type IV collagen. In contrast to its atypical cellular morphology, symplastic glomus tumor clinically behaves benign, and it is important to differentiate it from malignant glomus tumor as well as other primary or metastatic malignant tumors.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fingers; Glomus Tumor; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Neoplasm Grading; Predictive Value of Tests; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Burden

PubMed: 26456968
DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2014.01247

Review

Authors: Anna Trier Heiberg Brix, Pernille Mathiesen Tørring, Shailajah Kamaleswaran...

In this review, the importance of correct diagnosis of glomuvenous malformations (GVM) is emphasised, and different treatment modalities are discussed. GVM are simple venous malformations located in the skin and subcutis, and GVM has a characteristic blue to reddish cobblestone-like appearance with not fully compressible elements, which can be associated with pain on palpation. Clinically, GVM differ from blue rubber bleb naevus syndrome and common/familial cutaneo-mucosal venous malforma-tions in appearance, compressibility and in having a normal D-dimer concentration.

Topics: Glomus Tumor; Humans; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal; Skin Neoplasms

PubMed: 31036144
DOI: No ID Found

Review

Authors: Yuanyin Zheng, Xiaobin Liu, Yingyu Mao...

Glomus tumor is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm arising from the modified smooth muscle cells of the glomus body. Primary crissum glomus tumor is extremely rare without any published in the literature. In this article, we report the first case of primary crissum glomus tumor in an 80-year-old man with recurrent anal pain for 8 years, increased pain for 1 year. Rectal MRI for inflammatory lesions (sinus tract). Microscopic examination showed the tumor cells were arranged in sheets and nests, surrounding blood vessels and nerve bundles. At high magnification, the neoplastic cells show regular round shape with light eosinophilic and translucent cytoplasm. The cell boundary is clear, the nucleus is round and located in the center. The stroma of the tumor shows hyaline degeneration. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin, h-caldesmon, Calponin, synaptophysin, Collagen IV and CD34, but completely negative for HMB45, S100, EMA, desmin, CgA and CD56. The histologic features and immunohistochemical profile supported a diagnosis of primary crissum glomus tumor. The patient was asymptomatic and disease free after the procedure.

Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Anal Canal; Glomus Tumor; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local

PubMed: 35074986
DOI: 10.4103/IJPM.IJPM_1237_20

Review

Authors: Marco Mravic, Gregory LaChaud, Alan Nguyen...

BACKGROUND

Glomus tumors are relatively uncommon subcentimeteric benign perivascular neoplasms usually located on the fingers. With their blue-red color and common subungual location, they are commonly confused for vascular or melanocytic lesions. To date there is no comprehensive review of an institutional experience with glomus tumors.

METHODS

A 14-year retrospective review of all cases within University of California, Los Angeles, with either a clinical or pathological diagnosis of glomus tumor was performed. Data obtained included demographic information, tumor description, pathological diagnoses, immunohistochemical studies, radiographic and treatment information, and clinical course. Rates of concordance between clinical and pathological diagnoses and an evaluation of overlap with other entities were assessed.

RESULTS

Clinical diagnosis of glomus tumor showed concordance with a histopathological diagnosis (45.4% of cases). The most common alternate clinical diagnoses included lipoma, cyst, or angioma. A pathological diagnosis of glomus tumor was most common in the fourth to seventh decades of life. The most common presentation was a subcentimeter lesion on the digit. Deep-seated tumors had a strikingly increased risk for malignancy (33%). Radiological studies were not relied on frequently (18.2% of cases). Immunohistochemical analysis showed diffuse αSMA and MSA expression in nearly all cases (99% and 95%, respectively), with focal to diffuse CD34 immunostaining in 32% of cases.

DISCUSSION

Our study illustrates trends in the clinical versus pathologic diagnoses of glomus tumor, common competing diagnoses, a difference in demographics than is commonly reported (older age groups most commonly affected), and important differences in the use adjunctive diagnostic tools including radiology and immunohistochemistry.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Glomus Tumor; Humans; Male; Middle Aged

PubMed: 25614464
DOI: 10.1177/1066896914567330

Authors: Karl O Nakken, Lillian Nordbø Berge, Geir D Slapø...

BACKGROUND

Glomus tumour is a rare benign hypervascular lesion mainly found in the subungual region of the fingers.

CASE PRESENTATION

A young, right-handed female experienced episodic and increasing pain in her left thumb. The pain was triggered by cold weather and light pressure. Painkillers and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs gave little or no relief. She saw several doctors who suspected various diagnoses, including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and cervicobrachialgia. None of these could be verified.

INTERPRETATION

The case illustrates how a rare benign tumour, that can be effectively treated, can lead to chronic disability when a correct diagnostic workup is severely delayed.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Glomus Tumor; Nail Diseases; Pain; Skin Neoplasms; Thumb

PubMed: 39498644
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.24.0253

Authors: Jing-Jing Xing, Wen-Peng Huang, Fang Wang...

BACKGROUND

Gastric glomus tumor (GGT) is a rare neoplasm that is difficult to distinguish from other gastric submucosal tumors due to a lack of diagnostic experience. The goal of this study was to better understand GGT by looking at its clinicopathological features, computed tomography (CT) features, and differential diagnosis.

METHODS

The clinical data and CT findings of 21 pathologically confirmed GGT patients were examined. The clinical characteristics and CT findings of benign GGT were compared to gastric stromal tumors (GST) (n = 30) and heterotopic pancreas (n = 30).

RESULTS

The 21 cases included six males and fifteen females ranging in age from 42 to 64 years. The lesions were found in the gastric body in four cases and the antrum in seventeen. GGT was diagnosed as benign in 20 cases and malignant in one. In benign cases, the glomus cells were small, uniform, showed perivascular hemangiopericytoma‑like or solid nest‑like structures. Obvious mitotic figures were observed in the malignant case. SMA staining was positive in the tumor cells. A quasi-round or round solid mass protruded into the gastric cavity in 20 benign cases, with a clear and smooth edge. The long to short diameter ratio was 1.01 ± 0.15. All of the benign cases had obvious enhancement, with homogeneous enhancement in ten cases and heterogeneous enhancement in ten cases, as well as central filling enhancement in 12 cases. The ratio of CT value of lesion to abdominal aorta in arterial phase and venous phase were (0.41 ± 0.11) and (0.81 ± 0.20), which were significantly higher than GST and heterotopic pancreas. The irregular mass broke through the gastric wall and invaded liver with poorly defined boundary and internal necrosis, heterogeneous persistent moderate enhancement with thickening blood supply arteries was seen in one malignant case with a long diameter of 150 mm and a thick diameter of 30 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

CT enhancement usually shows persistent obvious enhancement, especially in arterial phase, which provides important value for the diagnosis. CT findings can help in the differential diagnosis of GGT and other submucosal tumors.

Topics: Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Glomus Tumor; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Retrospective Studies; Stomach Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PubMed: 35397495
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-022-02241-w

Review

Authors: Kambiz Motamedi, Leanne L Seeger

A solid knowledge of underlying histopathology of benign bone tumors aids in differential diagnoses of these tumors. Important factors in diagnosis of a bone tumor include patient age and gender; the bone involved; the location of the tumor along, within, or on the bone; lesion margin; matrix proliferation; and periosteal reaction. This article provides a review of the origin of the tumor matrix and its influence on the imaging properties of these tumors.

Topics: Bone Cysts; Bone Diseases; Bone Neoplasms; Diagnosis, Differential; Glomus Tumor; Hemangioma; Humans; Lipoma; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neoplasms, Bone Tissue; Neoplasms, Fibrous Tissue; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PubMed: 22024291
DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2011.07.002