Extradigital Tumors Research Articles

Extradigital glomus tumour of the forearm- A rare site for an unusual tumour

Soft tissue tumors are known to occur by varied presentations with atypical features, especially with regard to vascular tumors. The glomus tumour is an unusual benign neoplasm arising from smooth muscles of the perivascular glomus bodies. While it is known to occur in the extremities, this tumour has a predilection for the sub-ungal region of fingers. Vascular tumors as such, especially glomus tumors presenting in extra digital sites are extremely rare. In literature only five cases are available on extra digital sites and few cases have been reported to involve the gastrointestinal tract, airways, shoulders, wrist, knees and elbows. This report discusses the clinical and histopathological features of an glomus tumour of the forearm with atypical presentation. Glomus tumours should be considered as a differential in any nodule occurring in the extradigital locations. Extradigital tumours need not present as a painful purplish nodule and can be asymptomatic. Surgeons and pathologists have to be aware about the varied presentation of these tumours so that misdiagnosis can be avoided and patient can undergo quicker diagnosis and treatment.

Clinical and pathological characteristics of extradigital and digital glomus tumours: a retrospective comparative study

Most glomus tumours are located in the digits, especially in subungual areas. Less is known, however, about the clinical characteristics of extradigital glomus tumours. The aim of this study was to characterize extradigital glomus tumours and compare their clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics with those of digital glomus tumours. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 110 patients with digital and 42 patients with extradigital glomus tumours, treated at a single centre from 1991 to 2010. We also investigated the immunohistochemical expression of substance P and TRPV1 in the biopsy specimens from patients with digital (n = 5) and extradigital (n = 5) glomus tumours. Compared with patients with digital glomus tumours, patients with extradigital tumours were significantly older (P = 0.009) and showed a significantly greater male predominance (P < 0.001), lower incidence rates of pain (P = 0.019), cold intolerance (P < 0.001) and a higher frequency of the glomangioma subtype (P < 0.001). Extradigital glomus tumours were located most frequently on the upper extremities (n = 25). The most common clinical presentations were solitary purplish papules (n = 10). Only 20% of extradigital glomus tumours were diagnosed correctly by the initial physician. Of 38 evaluable patients, 34 (89.5%) were successfully treated with simple excision without recurrence. Substance P and TRPV1 were expressed moderately to strongly in glomus cells, but there were no differences in their expression between patients with digital and extradigital glomus tumours. Extradigital glomus tumours do not have specific clinical features such as pain, leading to frequent misdiagnosis. To prevent delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis, it is important to increase awareness of these tumours.

Glomus tumour in the forearm: a case report and review of mri findings

Glomus tumours are uncommon benign neoplasms characterised by the proliferation of modified smooth muscle cells known as glomus cells. Glomus tumours are well described in the extremities, particularly in the sub-ungual region and MRI is well established as the investigation of choice. However, a significant proportion of glomus tumours are extra-digital, but the discussion of MRI findings of extra-digital tumours is limited and restricted to case reports. We present a case of a solitary painful forearm lesion in an 81-year-old man, and review the English literature on extra-digital glomus tumours documenting MR imaging features. Radiologists should be aware of the existence of these lesions, particularly in the setting of chronic pain and focal tenderness.