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.

Painful Forearm Mass in a 75-year-old Man

“…Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of glomangioma, with characteristic findings of monomorphic sheets of moderately sized cells with uniform nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, with a stroma containing numerous dilated, thin-walled vessels. Glomus tumors have been reported infrequently in superficial, deep, and intravascular locations of the forearm, with variable symptoms [1,6,11]. Glomangioma also has been reported in the forearm, resulting in compression neuritis [5].…”

Intracephalic glomus tumor presenting as peripheral neuropathic pain and literature review

“…A gl national Journal rential feature b ed that the tum in mutation. A currence of pai h control of the ng the dermis [ inating from no by the derma [11] . Importantly men [10,11] .…”

“…A currence of pai h control of the ng the dermis [ inating from no by the derma [11] . Importantly men [10,11] . The of injury have b nd no history o mptoms and we l pain, localized ent with neuro lomus tumor c of Diagnostic Im between the tw mor cells wer fter the comple in up to 4 year e skin circulatio [8] .…”

“…The forearm is the most common extra digital site, however, the intravascular origin of a forearm glomus tumor is an exceedingly rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, only 3 cases of intravascular forearm glomus tumors have been reported [10,11] . We will present an interesting rare case of a patient with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain and cold intolerance caused by an intravascular glomus tumor in the forearm.…”

“…The forearm is the most common extra digital location, and the lesions most commonly occur in the subcutaneous layer. Extra cutaneous glomus tumors occur very infrequently in locations such as muscle, bone, periosteal, intravascular and intraneural layers [10,11] . They are usually solitary but a multiple glomus tumor syndrome has been described and is transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern [9] .…”