Nail-preserving excision of glomus tumor in the second toe: Case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: This case report describes the diagnosis of a glomus tumor in the second toe of a 38-year-old female, followed by surgical treatment utilizing a transungual approach to preserve the nail. This study highlights the diagnostic challenges and surgical strategies to treat such tumors while preserving nail integrity. PATIENT CONCERNS: Pain occurred once a week, but over time, it increased, and just before seeking medical attention, she experienced pain more than 5 times a day. The pain worsened when cold water touched her toe. DIAGNOSIS: We observed a slight hump indicating nail plate deformity, and the patient exhibited severe pinpoint tenderness (positive Love test) in the affected area. Color duplex ultrasound was performed for further investigation, revealing a hypervascular hypoechoic nodule measuring 0.5 cm in size at the nail bed of the right second toe. INTERVENTION: The surgery was performed under digital nerve block anesthesia using a modified transungual nail-preserving approach for the excision of the glomus tumor. OUTCOMES: The pain that was reported prior to the surgery has improved postoperatively, and the recovery has been uneventful without any other complication. CONCLUSION: This paper provides a comprehensive examination of a rare glomus tumor in the second toe, elucidating both diagnostic intricacies and treatment modalities. It emphasizes the dual necessity of achieving total tumor excision while also considering aesthetic outcomes. The insights presented herein are intended to serve as valuable guidance for clinicians confronted with similar clinical scenarios, underlining the delicate interplay between effective tumor management and the preservation of cosmetic integrity.

Outcomes Following Excision of Toe Glomus Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Glomus tumors are uncommon tumors and their occurrence in the foot is even less common. Glomus tumors of the toes are often missed, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment. We report an ambispective observational study of glomus tumors of the toes that were treated at our institution. METHODS: We reviewed the records of all the patients who underwent excision of toe glomus tumors in our department from January 2010 to September 2022. The follow-up data were collected from the outpatient records and by telephonic interview. Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and the Foot Function Index (FFI) were collected. RESULTS: Out of all the patients treated for glomus tumors, we found that 7 patients had glomus tumors of the toes. Of the 7 patients, 6 were women and 1 was a male. The mean follow-up of our patients was 66.4 months (range, 7-109 months). Of the 7 patients, 1 presented with recurrent glomus tumor 30 months following the primary operation, for which she underwent excision again, after which she was symptom free. Another patient who developed recurrent symptoms on telephonic interview refused any further treatment. Among the 6 patients who were symptom-free at follow-up (including the patient who underwent excision for the recurrent tumor), the median SANE score, and FFI were 99.5 (IQR, 96-100) and 0.5 (IQR, 0-2) respectively. The mean FAOS was 96 (SD, 3.3). CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of the subungual toe glomus tumors can be curative. Recurrence of toe glomus tumors was noted in 2 patients (29%), one of whom refused further surgery. Re-excision in the other patient resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, ambispective observational study.

Radiotherapy and Anrotinib in Malignant Glomus Tumor of the Bladder: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Malignant glomus tumors (MGTs) are rare malignancies, which grow rapidly and are aggressive. Surgical resection has been regarded as the standard management, but treatment options for those unresectable tumors are limited, resulting in a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Case Description: An 85-year-old man presented with gross hematuria and was diagnosed with MGTs of bladder. The patient achieved long-term local control after multimodal therapy comprising radiotherapy, iodine-125 seeds brachytherapy, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, and antiangiogenic targeted therapy. Conclusion: MGTs occurring in the bladder are clinically rare and refractory. The case presented here highlights the importance of multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment, providing evidence that radiotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy may play an important role in unresectable bladder MGT.

En Bloc Excision and Bone Grafting for Monostotic Multiple Intraosseous Glomus Tumors of the Distal Phalanx: A Case Report.

CASE: Glomus tumors of the hand are rare tumors that occur predominantly in the subungual region. Though multicentric glomus tumors have been reported in the subungual region involving the nailbed, monostotic multiple intraosseous glomus tumors have not been reported so far. We report a case of a 36 year-old woman who presented with a 5-year history of intermittent thumb pain, aggravated with exposure to cold or pressure. A glomus tumor of the thumb was excised, but symptoms returned 3 months later. She ultimately underwent curettage with bone grafting of a recurrent glomus tumor at the same site, and has been free of symptoms for 1.5 years. CONCLUSION: Intraosseous glomus tumors may present as multiple synchronous lesions. This, to the best of our knowledge, is the first case report of monostotic multiple intraosseous glomus tumors.

A 65-Year-Old Man Presenting to the Emergency Department with Gastric Hemorrhage Caused by a Glomus Tumor.

BACKGROUND Glomus tumor is a benign but rapidly growing mesenchymal tumor that is a rare in the gastrointestinal tract, can be locally invasive due to its rapid growth, and can result in perforation of a viscus. We report a 65-year-old man presenting as an emergency with gastric hemorrhage and gastric glomus tumor. CASE REPORT A 65-year-old man came to our hospital for a life-threatening upper digestive hemorrhage. The preoperative examinations (digestive endoscopy without sampling of biopsy fragments and contrast-enhanced computer tomography) led to the presumptive diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Wedge resection of the gastric wall was performed. The histopathological examinations revealed a proliferation of round-oval cells of medium size with a solid disposition and in nests. This proliferation dissected the muscular tunic and caused ulceration of the gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemical tests confirmed the diagnosis of glomus tumor and excluded other diagnoses (neuroendocrine tumor or gastrointestinal stromal tumor). The postoperative evolution was favorable, and at the time of discharge, the biochemical test values normalized. CONCLUSIONS Pathologists are faced with a challenging task due to the deceptive appearance that can be presented by such a rare tumor. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations are essential in achieving a precise diagnosis and assessing the biological potential of the glomus tumor. Even if it is a benign tumor, the clinical picture it causes can still be a major risk to the patient's life. Consequently, ensuring effective case management becomes crucial, as it requires a thorough comprehension of all conditions encompassed in the differential diagnosis.

The clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 60 cutaneous glomus tumor: a retrospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: Glomus Tumor (GT) are benign neoplasms that originate from mesenchymal cells. It presents as tenderness and cold allodynia in the digits, especially in the subungual region. There are a few studies that investigated the mechanism of pain. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical-pathologic characteristics of GT and to identify the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, and CGRP in it, further, to explore the possible mechanism of pain. METHODS: The clinical and pathological data of 60 GT patients were retrospectively analyzed. Tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6 and CGRP. RESULTS: GT is more common in females and the ratio of male to was near to 1:2, mostly in middle-aged people. It often occurs in fingertips, especially the thumbs. Patients often present with spontaneous pain, tenderness, and cold hypersensitivity. Both the two pain mediators IL-1ß and IL-6 were highly expressed in GT cells of patients with and without cold hypersensitivity. While CGRP was not expressed in GT. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Low sample size and further research is needed to explore the specific mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1ß and IL-6 were highly expressed in GT cells, suggesting that IL-1ß and IL-6 have certain nociceptive roles in GT. In the 4 patients with cold intolerance, the intensity of IL-1ß and IL-6 staining was also strong, suggesting that they may not play a role in the cold hypersensitivity. However, since there are only 4 patients with cold intolerance, it's necessary to conduct further in-depth research using a larger sample size. The specific role of CGRP in GT has not been found yet.

High-frequency ultrasonography for subungual glomus tumor evaluation - imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to describe the common imaging features of subungual glomus tumors. METHODS: The study involved data collected between January 2019 and December 2022. Twenty-three patients with a total of 31 glomus tumors underwent high-frequency ultrasound examinations with a 24-MHz probe. Two experienced radiologists independently evaluated the images, and only data from the more experienced radiologist were used for subsequent analyses. RESULTS: The average size of the tumors was 4.6 mm, and most of them appeared homogeneously hypoechogenic (90.3%). Bone remodeling of the distal phalanx was observed in 87.1% of cases, with an average axial circumference loss of 0.8 mm, indicating the slow and expansive growth of glomus tumors. Intense vascularization was found in 54.8% of cases on Doppler images, and the stalk sign, reflecting the vascular origin of the tumor, was present in 64.5% of cases. The most common clinical feature was pain, reported in 84.6% of cases, with a mean pain scale score of 7.0, indicating a negative impact on patients' lives despite being benign tumors. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that ultrasound evaluation is highly useful for diagnosing glomus tumors, especially when multiple findings, such as bone remodeling, hypervascularization, and the stalk sign, are present. This method allows for accurate diagnosis, observation of periungual structures, and proper surgical planning, ultimately reducing recurrence rates.

Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Misdiagnosis as Glomus Tympanicum.

Middle ear tumors are diverse, but relatively uncommon. The most frequent tumor in the middle ear is glomus tumor, followed by others such as schwannoma and cholesteatoma. We experienced a case of Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue hyperplasia as a middle ear tumor. The mass behind tympanic membrane appeared a hypervascular tumor, mimicking a glomus tumor, but the form of multiple separate masses in middle ear and mastoid cavity was the distinguishing feature that set it apart from a glomus tumor. Additionally, another characteristic was its tendency to easily shrink under pressure. This characteristic should be considered when encounter a hypervascular looking middle ear mass. Laryngoscope, 134:1894-1896, 2024.

Infiltrative fibrous lesion of the facial nerve mimicking a facial nerve tumor.

PURPOSE: To report three cases of facial nerve lesions that were clinically expected to be facial nerve tumors but showed fibrotic infiltration without any apparent signs of a specific tumor on histopathological findings. We also aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of these cases. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent surgery for facial nerve lesions were reviewed. RESULTS: All three cases initially had House-Brackmann (HB) grade IV-V facial nerve palsy. On radiological imaging, schwannoma or glomus tumor originating from the facial nerve was suspected. All patients underwent complete surgical removal of the neoplasm followed by facial nerve reconstruction using the sural nerve. The lesions were histologically confirmed as infiltrative fibrous lesions without tumor cells. In two cases, facial nerve palsy improved to HB grade III by nine months post-surgery, and there were no signs of recurrence on follow-up MRI. The other case, after 1 year of follow-up, showed persistence of HB grade V facial nerve palsy without any evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Fibrotic lesions of the facial nerve could mimic primary facial nerve tumors. Clinicians should consider this condition even when a facial nerve tumor is suspected.

A Rapidly Expanding Hemorrhagic BRAF-Mutant Orbital Atypical Glomus Tumor.

A healthy 32-year-old woman presented with the acute onset of left sided eye pain, upper eyelid fullness, and binocular diplopia during light weightlifting. Examination elevated intraocular pressure, proptosis, upper eyelid ptosis, and motility deficits. CT demonstrated a well-circumscribed, homogeneous-appearing extraconal mass in the superior left orbit. The patient underwent an urgent orbitotomy with the excision of a hemorrhagic mass. Histopathology showed a glomus tumor with atypical features and hemorrhagic infarction, best classified as having uncertain malignant potential. A B-Raf proto-oncogene V600E mutation was detected with immunohistochemistry, which suggests a more aggressive tumor behavior yet presents an opportunity for targeted primary or adjunctive therapy. This is the first reported case of a B-Raf proto-oncogene-mutant atypical glomus tumor arising in the orbit.

Novel ATG7::RAF1 gene fusion in malignant glomus tumor.

Glomus tumors are classified as members of the perivascular myoid family of tumors. Nearly half of these show NOTCH-gene fusions and a smaller subset has BRAF V600E mutations. Here, we report a novel ATG7::RAF1 fusion in malignant glomus tumor occurring in a 40-year-old female which has not been reported in the malignant glomus tumor before. A 40-year-old female presented with a persistent lateral heel pain and an increase in the size of a mass along the lateral ankle for nearly 10 years. Resected specimen showed a well circumscribed lesion composed of spindled and epithelioid cells with moderate nuclear atypia and mitotic figures (7/10 high-power fields) including atypical forms without any necrosis, lymphovascular, or perineural invasion. The tumor was positive for smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, H-caldesmon, collagen type IV, and discovered on gastronintestinal stromal tumors-1 but negative for AE1/3, desmin, S-100, CD34, and CD117. RNA sequencing showed presence of ATG7-RAF1 fusion. This fusion has not been reported in the malignant glomus tumor before. Future studies on larger cohorts are needed to ascertain the biological significance of these tumors with novel gene fusions.

A rare cause of AA amyloidosis: Glomus tumor and treatment with anakinra-Case report and literature review.

Systemic AA amyloidosis is associated with poorly controlled chronic inflammatory disorders. Chronic infections and inflammatory arthritis are the most common causes; however, they can also rarely occur as a complication of neoplastic disorders. The development of AA amyloidosis secondary to paraganglioma, which is a rare type of tumor, has rarely been reported in the literature. In this case, an 85-year-old female patient with a glomus tumor in the neck, who has been followed up over 50 years, applied with complaints of loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea for 5-6 months. While evaluating the patient, who had high levels of acute phase reactants, amyloidosis was diagnosed by salivary gland biopsy. No other cause was found to explain amyloidosis. The patient, who could not tolerate treatment with colchicine and azathioprine, is successfully treated with the interleukin-1 inhibitor anakinra. A rare relationship, systemic AA amyloidosis, which is thought to have developed as a result of long-standing jugular paraganglioma, is presented in this article. In addition, publications showing an association between paragangliomas and amyloidosis were reviewed.

Malignant glomus tumor arising in association with a fumarate hydratase-deficient leiomyoma: An unusual collision tumor.

Collision tumors, defined as "two independent neoplasms that occur in close proximity to one another but maintain distinct boundaries," are quite rare. We report an exceptional collision tumor composed of a genetically confirmed malignant glomus tumor and a fumarate hydratase (FH)-deficient leiomyoma, presenting as a subcutaneous thigh mass in a 38-year-old male who was known to have hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome. Microscopic examination identified a biphasic subcutaneous mass comprising sheets and nodules of glomus cells, with nuclear atypia and mitotic activity, and fascicles of mitotically inactive smooth muscle with variably pleomorphic nuclei and intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions, features of FH-deficient leiomyoma. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated loss of FH and robust 2-succinocysteine expression in the smooth muscle, with a normal (FH-retained) expression pattern in the glomus tumor. Next-generation sequencing, performed on the glomus tumor component, identified CARMN::NOTCH2 fusion, characteristic of malignant glomus tumors. Awareness of the distinctive morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic features of glomus tumors and FH-deficient leiomyomas is important for correct clinical management of patients with exceptional collision tumors of this type.

A case of cutaneous malignant glomus tumor.

Glomus tumors are well-known but relatively rare vascular neoplasms, with their malignant counterparts still being rarer. There are very few reports of cutaneous malignant glomus tumors, and the current limited evidence suggests that they follow a more indolent course than deep-seated malignant glomus tumors. Herein, we are reporting a case of cutaneous malignant glomus tumor. A 94-year-old male presented with a right-sided ulcerated scalp lesion, which, on biopsy, showed a diffusely infiltrative epithelioid malignancy with considerable pleomorphism and a notable perivascular growth pattern. The tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and h-caldesmon, and negative for cytokeratin MNF116, CK5, p40, S100, SOX10, HMB45, Melan-A, ERG, CD31, CD45, CD3, CD20, ALK, desmin, CD68, CD34, and HHV8. A diagnosis of cutaneous malignant glomus tumor was made, and the patient underwent a wider excision. Cutaneous malignant glomus tumors are extremely rare and should be considered when examining unusual cutaneous mesenchymal tumors.

Tumor glômico em antebraço direito: uma apresentação atípica / Glomus tumor in the right forearm: an atypical presentatio

Introdução: Tumor glômico é uma neoplasia mesenquimal rara que compreende menos de 2% dos tumores de partes moles. Trata-se de um tumor com comportamento clínico benigno, de maior incidência no sexo feminino, entre a segunda e quarta década de vida. Objetivo: Apresentar um caso clínico de tumor glômico. Material e Método: Estudo tipo relato de caso. Relato: Homem de 35 anos de idade com nódulo em antebraço direito há 5 anos. Tratava-se de um nódulo, não ulcerado, eritemato-acastanhado, medindo cerca de 3 milímetros de diâmetro, doloroso a palpação e sensível ao contato com líquidos em baixas temperaturas. Após biópsia incisional da lesão, o exame foi compatível com o aspecto histopatológico de Tumor Glômico, com a presença de vasos sanguíneos dilatados e circundados por pequenas células glômicas com núcleos ovalados, citoplasma eosinofílico e bordas regulares, o que permitiu o correto diagnóstico e o planejamento terapêutico. Até a conclusão do trabalho, o paciente não havia realizado a remoção cirúrgica do tumor, porém não apresentou limitações ou queixas importantes. Conclusão: O estudo do caso do tumor glômico permitirá maior elucidação de novos casos, tendo em vista a raridade do tumor, o quadro clínico pouco específico e escassez de literatura disponível

Introduction: Glomus tumor is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that comprises less than 2% of soft tissue tumors. It is a tumor with a benign clinical behavior, with a higher incidence in females, between the second and fourth decade of life. Objective: To present a clinical case of glomus tumor. Material and Method: Case report study. Report: 35-year-old man with a nodule on his right forearm for 5 years. It was a non-ulcerated, erythematous-brown nodule, measuring approximately 3 millimeters in diameter, painful on palpation and sensitive to contact with liquids at low temperatures. After incisional biopsy of the lesion, the examination was compatible with the histopathological appearance of Glomus Tumor, with the presence of dilated blood vessels surrounded by small glomus cells with oval nuclei, eosinophilic cytoplasm and regular borders, which allowed the correct diagnosis and planning therapeutic. Until the conclusion of the work, the patient had not undergone surgical removal of the tumor, but did not present any limitations or major complaints. Conclusion: The study of the glomus tumor case will allow greater elucidation of new cases, given the rarity of the tumor, the non-specific clinical picture and the scarcity of available literature

Introducción: El tumor glómico es una neoplasia mesenquimatosa rara que comprende menos del 2% de los tumores de tejidos blandos. Es un tumor de comportamiento clínico benigno, con mayor incidencia en el sexo femenino, entre la segunda y cuarta década de la vida. Objetivo: Presentar un caso clínico de tumor glómico. Material y Método: Estudio de caso clínico. Informe: Hombre de 35 años con nódulo en antebrazo derecho desde hace 5 años. Se trata de un nódulo de color marrón eritematoso, no ulcerado, de aproximadamente 3 milímetros de diámetro, doloroso a la palpación y sensible al contacto con líquidos a bajas temperaturas. Luego de la biopsia incisional de la lesión, el examen fue compatible con el aspecto histopatológico de Tumor Glómico, con presencia de vasos sanguíneos dilatados rodeados de pequeñas células glómicas con núcleos ovalados, citoplasma eosinofílico y bordes regulares, lo que permitió el correcto diagnóstico y planificación terapéutica. Hasta la conclusión del trabajo, el paciente no había sido sometido a extirpación quirúrgica del tumor, pero no presentaba limitaciones ni quejas importantes. Conclusión: El estudio del caso de tumor glómico permitirá un mayor esclarecimiento de nuevos casos, dada la rareza del tumor, el cuadro clínico inespecífico y la escasez de literatura disponible

[Glomuvenous malformation: a clinicopathological analysis of 31 cases].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of glomuvenous malformation (GVM). Methods: Thirty-one cases of GVM diagnosed at the Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2011 to December 2021 were collected. Their clinical and pathological features were analyzed. The expression of relevant markers was examined using immunohistochemistry. The patients were also followed up. Results: There were 16 males and 15 females in this study, with an average age of 11 years (range, 1-52 years). The locations of the disease included 13 cases in the limbs (8 cases in the upper limbs, 5 cases in the lower limbs), 9 cases in the trunks, and 9 cases in the foot (toes or subungual area). Twenty-seven of the cases were solitary and 4 were multifocal. The lesions were characterized by blue-purple papules or plaques on the skin surface, which grew slowly. The lumps became larger and appeared to be conspicuous. Microscopically, GVM mainly involved the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, with an overall ill-defined border. There were scattered or clustered irregular dilated vein-like lumens, with thin walls and various sizes. A single or multiple layers of relatively uniform cubic/glomus cells were present at the abnormal wall, with scattered small nests of the glomus cells. The endothelial cells in the wall of abnormal lumen were flat or absent. Immunohistochemistry showed that glomus cells strongly expressed SMA, h-caldesmon, and collagen IV. Malformed vascular endothelial cells expressed CD31, CD34 and ERG. No postoperative recurrence was found in the 12 cases. Conclusions: GVM is an uncommon type of simple venous malformation in the superficial soft tissue and different from the classical glomus tumor. Morphologically, one or more layers of glomus cells grow around the dilated venous malformation-like lumen, which can be combined with common venous malformations.

A malignant glomus tumor in the nasal cavity responding to radiation therapy.

Malignant glomus tumors of the head and neck are extremely rare, and to our knowledge, a response to high-dose radiation has not been described previously. We report one case in an 80-year-old woman with right nasal cavity mass. Histological examination revealed sheets of atypical round glomus cells. The presence of increased mitotic activity (25 per 10 high-power fields), cellular atypism, and tumor necrosis suggested malignancy. The smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and h-caldesmon immunohistochemistry stains the tumor cells. Two cycles of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy were done and the tumor size was slightly increased. Salvage radiation therapy (RT) was delivered to the primary mass over 4 weeks (50 Gy in 20 fractions) and leading to nearly complete regression of tumor. Additional investigations are warranted so that we may determine the usefulness of RT in the management of this rare tumor.

Metastatic Malignant Glomus Jugulare Tumor: A Rare Case Report with Clinical Manifestations and Treatment Approach.

BACKGROUND Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine neoplasms derived from paraganglia of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Parasympathetic ganglia-derived tumors, also called non-chromaffin, are located almost exclusively in the neck and skull base and are usually non-secretory and inactive. A case of malignant glomus jugulare with a metastatic cervical lymph node is described here. CASE REPORT A 24-year-old woman was referred to an otolaryngology clinic for concern of voice change for 1 month, which was associated with right progressive hearing loss, pulsating tinnitus, and right facial weakness. A clinical examination revealed a reddish mass in the right ear behind an intact tympanic membrane with right facial weakness of House-Brackmann grade VI. A bedside flexible nasopharyngoscopy revealed an immobile right vocal fold. A computed tomography scan of the brain revealed a destructive lesion within the right jugular foramen. The patient underwent embolization followed by glomus tumor resection via infra-temporal fossa with Fisch type A approach. Pathology revealed that the tumor was an infiltrative epithelioid tumor with a spindle and nesting pattern separated by fibrovascular stroma. The submitted lateral neck lymph node revealed a metastatic tumor. CONCLUSIONS Glomus jugulare tumors are uncommon paragangliomas, and malignant behavior with metastasis is extremely rare. Metastatic tumors are often associated with facial and vagal nerves palsy. There are no histological features that distinguish malignant glomus jugulare tumors. Malignant neoplasms are characterized by the presence of metastases. Tumors of the glomus jugulare that are malignant are treated with surgery, radiotherapy, or both. However, our search of the literature revealed no clear guidelines, given the scarcity of cases. Moreover, the presence of metastasis increases the risk of death.