Recurrent pyogenic granuloma with satellitosis.

A 26-year-old woman was treated by curettage and cautery for a pyogenic granuloma on her left shoulder. This recurred 3 months later and was excised. After a further 5 months, she developed three vascular papules and one lobulated vascular lesion at the site. These ranged in size from 1-4 mm and the largest of these bled easily on minimal trauma. The authors treated the four vascular lesions with curettage and cautery and took a punch biopsy from an erythematous area in the scar. Histology was identical to the original lesion, confirming a diagnosis of recurrent pyogenic granuloma with satellitosis. One year later she had no evidence of recurrence of the lesions.

Intravenous glomus tumour of the upper arm.

Glomus tumours are rare, benign tumours of the glomus body, most frequently located in the subungual region of digits, palms and soles, but they have been reported throughout the body. Our patient is a 65-year-old man who presented with a 3-year history of a very painful area on his left upper arm. The overlying skin was normal and there was no lesion to palpate, but the symptoms were very striking, warranting further investigation. An exploratory operation identified a prominent vein with a noticeable bulge in the vessel wall. The vein was ligated and excised. On dissection of the vein, a tumour was present within its lumen. Histological examination and immune profile of the tumour confirmed an intravascular glomus tumour. Following surgical excision, symptoms resolved.