Korean J Dermatol.
2022 Sep;60(8):505-512.
Clinical and Histopathological Analyses of Glomus Tumors: An Institutional Experience of 29 Cases
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
- Background
Glomus tumors are benign mesenchymal neoplasms originating from the subcutaneous glomus body. It is often described as a painful nodule accompanied by tenderness and temperature sensitivity.
Objective
To analyze the clinicopathologic features of glomus tumors and determine the correlations between the characteristics of glomus tumors and those of the patients.
Methods
We reviewed the medical records and biopsy specimens of 29 cases of glomus tumors diagnosed between June 2006 and May 2021 at a single tertiary hospital.
Results
The male to female ratio was 2.6:1, and the mean age of onset was 44.3 years. All cases presented with a solitary lesion, and the most common location was the fingernail (15 cases, 51.7%). Sixteen tumors (55.2%) were located in the digits, all of which were subungual tumors. Among these, nine tumors (56.3%) were observed in the nail bed, and seven (43.7%) were observed in the nail matrix. Thirteen patients (44.8%) had extradigital tumors. Histopathologically, 12 cases were solid glomus tumors (41.4%), 15 were glomangiomas (51.7%), and one was a glomangiomyoma (3.4%). Myxoid stromal changes were observed in nine cases (31.0%), all of which were subungual tumors. All tumors were removed. Postoperative nail deformities were observed in eight cases (50% of subungual tumors).
Conclusion
At our clinic, glomus tumors were commonly seen as solitary nodules accompanied by pain or tenderness. More than half of the tumors were located in the subungual area, mostly in the fingernails. Tumor removal alleviated the symptoms in most cases, but often resulted in residual nail dystrophy.
