Glomus tumor – A case report

Momčilo STOŠIĆ Department of Surgery Vranje General Hospital J. J. Lunge 1 17500 Vranje Serbia [email protected] SUMMARY Introduction Glomus tumor is a neuromyoarterial tumor. It is a rare tumor which accounts for about 2% of all hand tumors. The diagnosis is based on the triad of symptoms, clinical examination which includes three tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound imaging. The most common treatment is surgical excision, using transungual or lateral subperiosteal approach. Sclerotherapy and radiotherapy may be the treatments of choice, but they are less effective. The recurrence rate is high – from 5% to 50%. Case Outline We diagnosed a glomus tumor of 1 cm in diameter in the distal phalanx of the fourth finger of the right hand in a 30-year-old woman. She had been visiting different physicians for more than two years and had been variously diagnosed. We performed a biopsy of the tumor, which was bleeding profusely during the procedure. Upon biopsy results, the tumor was excised with transungual approach. Two and a half months after the procedure the patient was feeling well. Conclusion There should be higher awareness of this tumor in order to diagnose it more easily and treat it accordingly, and thus alleviate the severe pain which the tumor causes. When it is considered as the possible cause of the lesion, the diagnosing is easier and treatment is immediate.