Korean J Pain.  2014 Apr;27(2):174-177. 10.3344/kjp.2014.27.2.174.

Glomus Tumor Causing Anterior Thigh Pain: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National Universitiy Hospital, Daejeon, Korea. annn8432@gmail.com

Abstract

Glomus tumors are a rare, benign neoplasm and 75% exist in the subungual region. Extradigital glomus tumors are much more difficult to diagnose because of their atypical location and symptoms. Furthermore, if their symptoms are similar to neuropathic pain, the patient can suffer from misdirected treatment due to misdiagnosis. It is essential to perform careful evaluation of the lesion itself in order to reduce misdiagnosis. Ultrasonography is a useful, non-invasive method that can be easily performed in the pain clinic for local evaluation and diagnosis. We report a case of misdiagnosed glomus tumor in the thigh which was properly diagnosed after ultrasonography.

Keyword

glomus tuomr; neuropathic pain; ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Diagnostic Errors
Glomus Tumor*
Humans
Neuralgia
Pain Clinics
Thigh*
Ultrasonography

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Gray scale ultrasonography demonstrates a 0.8 × 0.6 cm2 sized nodule with a well-rounded, hypoechoic character in the subcutaneous fat tissue.

  • Fig. 2 Photomicrograph shows the glomus tumor. (A) The mass is composed of nests of glomus cells surrounding capillary sized vessels (×12.5). (B) The neoplastic cells are small, uniform, and rounded with a centrally placed, round nucleus and eosinophilic cytoplasm (×400).


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