Glomus Tumors in the Hand

Chung, Duke Whan; Han, Jung Soo; Lee, Chun Woo

Abstract

A tumor of the neuromyoarterial apparatus, the glomus, was described by Masson : the epitheloid cell of glomus was derived from the pericyte of Ziemmermann and these cells were widely distributed in the body. From Jan. 1987 to Oct. 1993, six patients (male 1, female 5), who were diagnosed as a glomus tumor in the hand were operated. The lesions were distributed in the distal phalanges of thumb (3 cases), index (1 case), ring finger (1 case) and little finger (1 case). The average duration of clinical manifestation was 6.3 year. Nail extraction was performed because of pain in 2 cases, but symptom was not improved. The clinial symptoms were severe lancinating pain, tenderness and cold induced pain in all 6 cases, palpable mass in 2 cases, bluish purple discoloration of skin in 4 cases, subcutaneous hemorrhage in 1 case, swelling in 2 case. On the reontgenography, bone changes were detected in 2 cases, soft tissue change was detected in 1 case and 3 cases showed unremarkable findings. The treatments were simple excision in 5 cases,curettage and bone graft in 1 case and symptoms were improved in the 6 case with the remnant mild pain and there was no recurrence. The aim of this study was to report the rare cases of glomus tumor in the hand.