A glomus tumour arising from the flexor aspect of the forearm: a case report with review of the literature

Extradigital Glomus Tumor Mimics an Intrinsic Nerve Tumor in a Trauma Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Glomus tumors are rare, painful, and usually benign neoplasms that typically occur at the subungual aspect of digits. Rarely, glomus tumors may arise in other areas of the body. We present a case of an extradigital glomus tumor on a forearm with prior trauma that presented with symptoms of an isolated peripheral neuropathy. Our review of literature reveals how upper or lower extremity glomus tumors can mimic neuropathies secondary to intrinsic nerve tumors (schwannoma, neurofibroma, or neuroma), radiculopathies, or manifestations of a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). We emphasize the need to consider a broad differential diagnosis that includes glomus tumor when evaluating patients with painful dermal masses producing peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy signs owing to the infiltrative growth pattern into or mass effect exerted on nearby nerves.

Atypically localized glomus tumor causing anterior interosseous nerve syndrome: A case report

This article presents a 48-year-old male patient who presented with pain in the left forearm and weakness and clumsiness in the left hand of 6 months' duration. Flexor motor strength loss of the thumb and the index finger was present and neurophysiologic tests showed findings compatible with axonal injury in the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) innervated muscles. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a space-occupying lesion in the proximal forearm resembling a glomus tumor. Excision of the mass and release of the AIN were performed. Histopathology confirmed a glomus tumor, and the patient remains asymptomatic at 1 year postoperatively. We stress the importance of imaging studies in patients when a suspected secondary nature of nerve entrapment is present.

Intravascular extra-digital glomus tumor of the forearm

Intravascular glomus tumor in the forearm is very rare and usually presents with persistent pain and focal tenderness. The diagnosis of this condition can be easily missed or delayed. There is no successful treatment so far other than surgical excision in most of cases. We presented a 45-year-old female presented with intravascular glomus tumor in her left forearm. The swelling was excised and the post-operative course was uneventful. Intravascular glomus tumor of the forearm is extremely rare and the persistent pain and tenderness are very suspicious. Diagnostic imaging may not be indicated in every case.

Extradigital Glomus Tumor Revisited: Painful Subcutaneous Nodules Located in Various Parts of the Body

Background:

Glomus tumor is a common lesion of the subungual area of the hand fingers. However, glomus tumors located outside the hand region are rare and the diagnosis is often difficult due to their low incidence and lack of distinct clinical features in the physical examination. The presented article contains five cases of extradigital glomus tumors with a short review of the literature.

Patients and Methods:

Five cases of extradigital glomus tumor were included in the study. All lesions were purple colored subcutaneous nodules with sharp pain by digital palpation. All lesions were examined with ultrasound imaging were operated under local anesthesia using loupe magnification.

Results:

Among five patients, only one patient was female with a mean age of 35. Two lesions were located at the arm region, two at the crural region and one at the sternal area. The smallest nodule was 0.5 cm and the biggest lesion was 2 cm in diameter. In all the cases, the early postoperative period was uneventful without any surgical complication or acute recurrence. The postoperative 1^st year examination of all patients revealed complete resolution of the pain and no recurrence was encountered.

Conclusions:

Glomus tumor should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of all painful subcutaneous lesions especially for those with purple reflection on the skin surface. In this manner, patients with extradigital glomus tumors may be diagnosed earlier and unnecessary and wrong treatments may be prevented.

Glomus tumour of the elbow: a case of mistaken identity

Glomus tumours are small vascular tumours that are usually benign and rarely occur. However, atypical locations of these tumours can lead to misdiagnosis, particularly where the lesion is rarely reported. We report a case of glomus tumour located on the posterior aspect of the elbow, which was mistaken for, and treated as the commonly diagnosed, olecranon bursitis for several years. With worsening symptoms, mainly pain, pinpoint tenderness and hypersensitivity, the patient was referred for a further opinion, and the lesion was diagnosed as a glomus tumour following complete excision under anaesthesia. This present case highlights the importance in considering this rare entity in the differential diagnosis of posterior elbow swelling and pain. Furthermore, this report provides a review of the literature and identifies the need for early specialist referral to confirm diagnosis, alleviate patient symptoms and improve function.

Intravascular glomus tumor of the forearm causing chronic pain and focal tenderness

Introduction. A glomus tumor is a benign vascular tumor derived from glomus cells and occurs mainly in the subcutaneous layer of the subungual or digital pulp. Extradigital glomus tumors have been reported within the palm, wrist, forearm, foot, bone, stomach, colon, cervix, and mesentery. Glomus tumors can originate from the intraosseous, intramuscular, periosteal, intravascular, and intraneural layers. However, a glomus tumor originating from the intravascular layer of the forearm is a rare condition. Case Report. A 44-year-old woman had a 7-year history of chronic pain and focal tenderness of the forearm. No hypersensitivity or sensory alterations were observed. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a mass measuring 5 × 3 × 2 mm leading to a vein. Surgical excision was performed, and the tumor was completely resected. Finding of gross examination revealed a dark-red, well-defined soft tissue tumor, and histologic examination confirmed that the mass was a glomus tumor. The patient's symptoms were completely resolved postoperatively. Conclusion. Intravascular glomus tumors rarely occur in the forearm; therefore, a thorough physical exam, comprehensive medical history, in-depth imaging, and early surgical excision upon clinical suspicion may be helpful to prevent a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.

Surgical extirpation of glomus tumor from rare localization on the upper extremity

Objective. To report on a very rare case of a glomus tumor manifested on the upper arm in a healthy young male patient. Case Presentation and Intervention. A 22-year-old male patient presented with bluish multifocal venous malformation on the left upper arm and was admitted for venous malformation excision. Pain, discomfort, and upper arm paraesthesia had been present for almost 6 years. Ultrasonography revealed septet tumor without blood flow in the subcutaneous region of anterior aspect of the upper arm. A multifocal venous malformation approximately 5–10 mm in diameter was excised. Histological examination showed dilated vascular area with proliferated glomus cells with round nucleus in the wall of dilated vascular structures. Based on histological examination, the final diagnosis was made as “glomangioma.” Conclusion. Histological examination is the only method that can establish final diagnosis. Currently, the only available treatment for this type of tumor is surgical excision.