A clinical and histopathologic analysis of 27 cases of glomus tumors

Background: Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm composed of vessels and glomus cells in varying proportion. Histopathologically, this tumor can be subdivided into a solid type glomus tumor, glomangioma, and glomangiomyoma. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the general clinicopathologic features of the glomus tumor. Methods: We reviewed the medical records and biopsy specimens of 27 cases of glomus tumors which were diagnosed between May 1995 and July 2005 in Samsung Seoul hospital. Results: We compiled clinical data and histopathologic information on the 27 cases of glomus tumor. Male:female ratio was 1:2.4 and the mean onset age was 40.3 years old. The most frequent site of involvement were the fingers (20 cases, of which 17 were the subungal location), followed by the arm (3 cases), leg (2 cases), and foot (1 case). Interestingly, 17 out of 19 female cases involved the fingers, whereas only 3 out of 8 male cases involved the fingers. The most characteristic symptom was paroxysmal pain elicited by pressure in all patients, except one patient who presented with multiple glomus tumors. The most common clinical presentation was nail dystrophy (12 cases), followed by purple or bluish papules (6 cases), nail discoloration (5 cases), and subcutaneous nodules (4 cases). Twenty six cases presented with a solitary lesion, and one patient presented with multiple lesions. Histopathologically, 21 cases were classified as solid type, and 6 as glomangioma type (all glomangioma cases developed in male patients). Edematous and extensive myxoid stromal changes were found in 6 cases (22.2%). Conclusion: According to these results, glomus tumors at our clinic were commonly seen as a solitary painful nodule on the finger (especially the subungal location) in female patients and all glomangioma cases were presented in male patients.