A glomus tumour arising from the flexor aspect of the forearm: a case report with review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

A 45 year old male patient presented with the complaint of a purplish nodular painful swelling on the flexor aspect of the left forearm of five years duration. A radiological examination of the lesion was not done prior to its excision. A biopsy was done and it was sent for a histopathological examination. The biopsied tissue was single, irregular, firm and globular, it measured 0.5 x 0.5cm in size and it was processed in two halves Its microscopic examination showed a well circumscribed area which comprised of sheets and nodules of monomorphic round cells with slightly vesicular, round nuclei and an acidophilic cytoplasm, amongst which were interspersed numerous blood vessels, many of which were dilated and congested, along with numerous lymphatic channels which were filled with lymph. Immunohistochemistry for SMA, CEA and CD 34 was advised, out of which only SMA turned out to be strongly positive and a final diagnosis of a Glomus tumour was made.