J Korean Soc Radiol.  2011 Oct;65(4):421-424. 10.3348/jksr.2011.65.4.421.

An Extradigital Glomus Tumor in the Upper Arm: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. radsh@medimail.co.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea.
  • 3Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Glomus tumors are rare benign soft tissue neoplasms arising from neuromyoarterial glomus bodies. Although the typical location of the tumors is the distal phalanx, they can occur in extradigital locations. We report a case of a glomus tumor unusually located in the upper arm with typical magnetic resonance imaging findings and pathologic findings.


MeSH Terms

Arm
Glomus Tumor
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A. A plain radiograph of the right humerus showing a soft tissue nodule (arrow). B, C, D. MRI demonstrating a well-demarcated subcutaneous nodule in the mid lateral aspect of the right upper arm, and showing hypointensity on axial T1WI (B), homogeneous enhancement on gadolium-enhanced axial T1WI (C), and hyperintensity on axial T2WI (D) (arrows).

  • Fig. 2 A. The histologic examination showing a well circumscribed tumor located in the subcutis. There are dilated, cavernous-like, thin walled vascular spaces surrounded by glomus cells (Hematoxylin and eosin stain, × 20). B. The tumor is composed of sheets of uniform cells with a small amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm, well defined cell margins, and round or ovoid punched-out central nuclei (Hematoxylin and eosin stain, × 400).


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