Case 68 - Discussion

Uploaded: 2007-11-28, Updated: 2007-11-28

Glomus Tumor

• Clinical: Solitary glomus tumors usually have paroxysmal pain, which can be severe and exacerbated by pressure or temperature changes, especially cold. Hildreth sign, disappearance of pain after application of a tourniquet proximally on the arm. Love test, eliciting pain by applying pressure to a precise area with the tip of a pencil

• Location:  most commonly in acral areas, especially subungual areas of fingers and toes

• Gross: blue or purple, papules or nodules that can be blanched, usually smaller than 1 cm

• Histology: Solitary glomus tumor usually appears as a well-circumscribed nodule surrounded by a rim of fibrous tissue. The tumor consists of endothelium-lined vascular spaces surrounded by clusters of glomus cells. The glomus cells are monomorphous, round or polygonal with plump nuclei and scant eosinophilic cytoplasm.

Reference

• http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic167.htm