What are the extracutaneous sites of glomus tumors?
Extracutaneous sites have been reported, including involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, trachea, nerve, bone, mediastinum, liver, pancreas, kidney, and ovary 21). Cases of benign and malignant glomus tumors of the kidney have been reported 22).
How common are glomus tumors in the hand?
More common in women, 70% of Glomus Tumors present in the hand with the clear majority occurring underneath the nail bed. Most of the nodules are solitary but can occur in clusters. Glomus Tumors represent 1 to 5% of all soft tissue tumors in the hand and fingers. What causes Glomus Tumors?
What is a glomus tumour?
The tumour is usually found on the nail bed or palm of a young adult and can be extremely painful, particularly following change in temperature or pressure. Extracutaneous glomus tumours have been reported rarely in the gastrointestinal tract, mediastinum, trachea, mesentery, cervix and vagina.
What is glomus body in dermis?
A glomus body is a component of the dermis layer of the skin, involved in thermoregulation. The glomus body consists of an arterio-venous shunt surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and is found in increased amounts in the fingers and toes.
Where are glomus tumors most commonly found?
In the head and neck, glomus tumor tissue is found in the jugular bulb, middle ear, and carotid artery. Of these sites, tumors are most common in the jugular bulb, which is a region of the jugular vein positioned immediately below the middle ear. These glomus tumors may grow into the middle ear and brain.
Where is the glomus located?
Glomus tumor is a slow-growing, vascular tumor located at the skull base. Also known as a glomus jugulare, glomus tumor is the most common tumor of the temporal bone, which contains the middle and inner portions of the ear.
What does a glomus tumor look like?
Glomus Tumors usually present as a small, firm, reddish-blue bump underneath the finger nail. These lesions are usually quite small, less than 7mm in diameter. They can be extremely painful, are sensitive to temperature change, and tender on palpation.
How common is glomus tumor?
Malignant glomus tumours are rare. These glomangiosarcomas are often located in the lower extremity or deep viscera, with approximately 8 cases reported in the hand17.
How do you know if you have a glomus tumor?
MRI or CT Imaging Glomus tumors are usually diagnosed with MRI or CT scans. These scans also help identify additional glomus tumors that may be present.
Can you feel a glomus tumor?
Symptoms of a glomus jugulare tumor include: Hearing loss. Ear fullness. Ear pain.
Is a glomus tumor a hemangioma?
Frequency. Glomus tumors account for 1-5% of all soft-tissue tumors of the upper extremity, occurring in most cases in the nail bed ; however, the true incidence of glomus tumors could be even higher, likely as a result of misdiagnosis of many of these lesions as hemangiomas or venous malformations.
How do you get a glomus tumor?
Glomus tumors develop from modified glomus cells which are specialized smooth muscle cells that function as chemoreceptors [3]. The normal function of glomus cells is to regulate blood flow in capillaries in response to changes in temperature.
Do glomus tumors show on MRI?
Glomus tumors are often evaluated with MRI, which has a positive predictive value of 97%.
Do glomus tumors spread?
Malignant glomus tumor, or glomangiosarcoma, is a very rare mesenchymal neoplasm that, when seen, occurs in visceral organs. Despite having histologic features of malignancy, these tumors usually do not metastasize. However, when metastasis occurs, this disease is often fatal.
Are glomus tumors hereditary?
Multiple glomus tumours are rare, often asymptomatic lesions, with a familial tendency and found in a more proximal location than their solitary counterparts.
Where do glomus tumors occur?
Glomus tumors most frequently occur in areas with high concentrations of glomus bodies, including subungual regions of the fingers and the deep dermis of the hand (palm), forearm, and foot (sole). The subcutaneous nodules may be red, purple, or blue depending on their depth.
What is a glomus tumor?
Glomus tumors are neoplasms caused by a proliferation of glomus cells, which make up a portion of the glomus body. The initiating event for glomus cell proliferation is unknown. Some authors have postulated that trauma induces solitary subungual glomus tumors, although this theory is not well studied.
What is the treatment for a solitary glomus tumor?
The treatment of choice for symptomatic solitary glomus tumors is total surgical excision 31), which is curative. While various treatment modalities have been reported, to include laser and sclerotherapy, in the case of solitary glomus tumors, complete removal of the tumor capsule is recommended to relieve pain and minimize risk for recurrence.
What is the histology of a glomus tumor?
The histology of a glomus tumor reveals solid sheets of glomus cells around small blood vessels. Immunohistochemical studies may be helpful in diagnosis. Glomus cells are immunoreactive with markers for a-smooth muscle actin (aSMA), muscle-specific actin (MSA), and h-caldesmon.
What are the components of a glomus tumor?
The three components of most glomus tumors include glomus cells, vasculature, and smooth muscle cells. The most common type of glomus tumor is the solid glomus tumor, characterized by a prominent smooth muscle cell component 14).
Why is it so difficult to excision multiple glomus tumors?
For multiple glomus tumors, excision may be more difficult because of their poor circumscription and the large number of lesions.
How deep is a malignant glomus tumor?
Malignant glomus tumors are more likely to be deep, larger than 2 cm, and have atypical features 9). Metastases are exceedingly rare 10).
What is a glomus tumour?
A glomus tumour is a nodule that arises from glomus cells in the arterial portion of the glomus body, or the Sucquet-Hoyer canal. The tumour is usually found on the nail bed or palm of a young adult and can be extremely painful, particularly following change in temperature or pressure.
How is a glomus tumour diagnosed?
Glomus tumour may be suspected clinically, as it is typically a solitary, painful, 1–2 cm reddish-blue papule or nodule on or around a nail bed. It usually undergoes biopsy . The histology of a glomus tumour reveals solid sheets of glomus cells around small blood vessels. Immunohistochemical studies may be helpful in diagnosis.
Which organ is a temperature sensitive organ?
The glomus body is a temperature-sensitive organ of modified perivascular smooth muscle cells, which is involved in the vascular regulation of skin temperature; arterioles contract with cold, whereas glomus bodies dilate, thereby maintaining blood flow to the nail bed.
Can a glomus be excised?
Solitary glomus tumours can be surgically excised.
Where are glomus tumors found?
Glomus tumors are usually solitary and small lesions. The vast majority are found in the hand, wrist, foot, and under the fingernails. They are often painful, and the pain is reproduced when the lesion is placed in cold water. Multiple tumors are less likely to be painful.
Where does a malignant glomus tumor come from?
Another report of a malignant glomus tumor ( glomangiosarcoma) with metastases from the skin. A malignant glomus tumor one arose from the kidneys.
What are the criteria for glomus tumor diagnosis?
Criteria for the diagnosis of malignancy in glomus tumors are: Tumor size of more than 2 centimeters and subfascial or visceral location. Atypical mitotic figures. Marked nuclear atypia and any level of mitotic activity. Pericytes of Zimmerman.
How often do glomus tumors occur?
Solitary glomus tumors are more frequent in adults than in others. Multiple glomus tumors develop 11–15 years earlier than single lesions; about one third of the cases of multiple tumors occur in those younger than 20 years. Congenital glomus tumors are rare; they are plaguelike in appearance and are considered a variant of multiple glomus tumors.
What is the size of a glomus tumor?
The tumor is the translucent oblate spheroid in the center of the incision, approximate horizontal dimension is 4 millimeters. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment for benign glomus tumors.
What is glomangioma inherited?
Familial glomangiomas have been associated with a variety of deletions in the GLMN ( glomulin) gene, and are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, with incomplete penetrance.
Is a glomus tumor benign?
The majority of glomus tumors are benign, but they can also show malignant features. Glomus tumors were first described by Hoyer in 1877 while the first complete clinical description was given by Masson in 1924. Histologically, glomus tumors are made up of an afferent arteriole, anastomotic vessel, and collecting venule.
Where are glomus tumors found?
Glomus tumors present as painful less than 2cm, blue-red blanchable papules or nodules in the deep dermis or subcutaneous fat most commonly on the fingers and toes and under the nail plate. They are composed of glomus cells, vasculature, and smooth muscle cells.
What is a glomus tumor?
Glomus tumor is a rare benign soft tissue neoplasm presenting in the second to fourth decade of life and originates from the glomus body. It accounts for 1-5% of all soft tissue tumors of the upper extremity. A glomus body is a component of the dermis layer of the skin, involved in thermoregulation. The glomus body consists of an arterio-venous ...
What is the best treatment for a solitary glomus tumor?
The curative treatment of choice for symptomatic solitary glomus tumors is total surgical excision to minimize the rate of painful recurrence. There have been reports that laser and sclerotherapy may be effective in some cases of solitary glomus tumors however, complete excision is the best option. For subungual tumors, preoperative imaging studies ...
Why is it so difficult to excision a glomus tumor?
In cases where there are multiple glomus tumors, excision may be more difficult because of the large number of lesions. Therefore, there have been several studies that show the use of argon, carbon dioxide or Nd:YAG laser therapy, or sclerotherapy with hypertonic saline or sodium tetradecyl sulfate are a better choice of treatment.
How to diagnose glomus tumors?
Two useful findings for diagnosing glomus tumors especially those under the nails are the Love test and the Hildreth sign. The Love test is where one applies pressure to the suspected area with a pencil tip or pinhead and intense pain should be elicited. The Hildreth sign is a reduction in pain and tenderness with the love test when using a tourniquet to induce transient ischemia.
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Can trauma cause glomus tumors?
The cause of the proliferation of glomus cells in Glomus tumor is unknown however there have been theories that trauma induces solitary subungual glomus tumors. Glomus tumors that are skin-colored or located in the nail matrix have a higher incidence of recurrence. The curative treatment of choice for symptomatic solitary glomus tumors is total ...
Where are glomus tumors found?
Glomus tumors are usually found in the nail; generally, they start forming from the neuro-arterial plexus region and are found exactly under the nail. The type of this plexus is an arteriovenous anastomosis that usually works without any capillary bed. The etiology of this condition is not properly found out. Due to this condition, the person may lose their nail or cause an effect on your finger, and this type of tumor will have the symptoms. Still, to overcome this disease earlier, you have to diagnose it as early as possible. Otherwise, you will lose your precious and beautiful little nail that looks pretty with your finger. A case reported in a very well-known hospital is that this tumor is a very bad disease located in your proximal area of the nail fold causing your nails longitudinal splitting.
What is the only treatment for subungual glomerulus?
Surgical excision is the only treatment that is usually used for these tumors of the subungual glomerulus. The researcher usually found out that their two treatments for it are translingual and periungual (lateral). But if this surgery is not done well, then this tumor will grow again and then require a second time.
Is a glomus tumor cancerous?
Glomus tumors are found to be very rare and are cancerous. Glomus tumor can be clinically suspected because it is usually a solitary, painful, reddish-blue, 1-2 cm papule or a lump on or around the nail bed. A biopsy is usually done. Glomus tumor histology reveals dense layers of glomus cells around small blood vessels. Immunohistochemistry tests can help diagnose. This type of tumor is found in either two centimeters of size or more than two centimeters and is subfascial or sometimes visceral.
Where is the benign glomus tumor found?
Benign glomus tumor component can often be found at the periphery and help with diagnosis. Glomus tumor of uncertain malignant potential: Tumors that do not fulfill criteria for malignancy but have at least 1 atypical feature other than nuclear pleomorphism.
What is the shape of a glomus cell?
Glomus cell has a round shape with indistinct borders with a rounded, sharply punched out nucleus in an amphophilic to eosinophilic cytoplasm.
What is glomangiopericytoma used for?
Glomangiopericytoma may be used for glomus tumors with prominent hemangiopericytic vasculature; however, these tumors are different from the pericytic site specific sinonasal glomangiopericytoma
What are the components of a well circumscribed mass?
Well circumscribed mass composed of 3 components: glomus cells, vasculature and smooth muscle cells
Which canal is a specialized arteriovenous anastomosis that regulates heat in the skin?
Arises from the Sucquet-Hoyer canal of the glomus body, a specialized arteriovenous anastomosis that regulates heat in the skin and is surrounded by layers of epithelioid, SMA+ glomus cells
Is doxorubicin used for glomus tumors?
No clinical trial data is available for treatment of malignant glomus tumors, but doxorubicin and olaratumab have been approved for recurrent / metastatic disease
Is myopericytoma a pericytic tumor?
Differential diagnosis. Myopericytoma and other pericytic tumors: deri ved from perivascular cells and may lie on a spectrum with glomus tumors; can have histologic and immunohistochemical overlap in areas with more prominent spindled differentiation.