Atypical glomus tumor arising in the liver: a case report

Abstract

BackgroundGlomus tumors typically occur in the subcutaneous tissue of distal extremities, but rarely in visceral organs. Most glomus tumors are benign, while others have been reported to have malignant potential. Herein, a unique case of a liver glomus tumor with atypical histological features is reported.Case presentationA 39-year-old man felt fullness in the epigastrium, and an enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a 21-cm solid and cystic mass in the left liver lobe. The patient underwent a left hepatic lobectomy, and the tumor was pathologically identified as a glomus tumor with atypical histological features in the liver. This case is unique for three reasons. First, cases of glomus tumors in the liver are extremely rare. Second, this is the first report of a hepatic glomus tumor with histologically atypical features. Third, immunohistochemical staining showed focal positivity for synaptophysin. A literature review revealed that glomus tumors in visceral organs positive for synaptophysin show histological atypical features in most cases.ConclusionsThis is the first case of a glomus tumor with atypical histological features arising in the liver. This unique case and literature review yielded interesting findings and enabled us to postulate that synaptophysin positivity may be indicative of atypical histological features in glomus tumors arising in visceral organs.

Nasal glomus tumor: A rare nasal tumor with diffuse and strongly positive synaptophysin expression

“…However, 11 cases of glomus tumor arising from various visceral organs (the stomach (n = 5), esophagus (n = 2), duodenum (n = 1), bronchus (n = 1), kidney (n = 1), and liver (n = 1)) have been reported to express synaptophysin in the English language literature. 1,3,4 In those reports, all glomus tumor cases tested focally positive for synaptophysin and negative for CD56 and chromogranin. Most cases of glomus tumors positive for synaptophysin exhibit either histological atypia or clinically malignant behavior, 4 whereas the glomus tumor in the present case was benign despite being diffusely and strongly positive for synaptophysin.…”

“…1,3,4 In those reports, all glomus tumor cases tested focally positive for synaptophysin and negative for CD56 and chromogranin. Most cases of glomus tumors positive for synaptophysin exhibit either histological atypia or clinically malignant behavior, 4 whereas the glomus tumor in the present case was benign despite being diffusely and strongly positive for synaptophysin. From these results, the expression of synaptophysin in the present nasal glomus tumor does not seem to be related to malignant characteristics.…”

Micrometastatic gastric glomus tumour confirmed by next‐generation sequencing

“…1 TERT promoter mutations are common in many cancer types, including 60-80% of urothelial carcinomas (UC). 2,3 Given the high frequency of these mutations in UC and the absence of these mutations in non-neoplastic/benign mimics of UC, 4 TERT promoter mutations may serve as potential biomarkers for monitoring patients with a history of malignancy. Multiple studies have reported detecting TERT mutations in specimens used commonly for monitoring UC patients, such as urine.…”

“…Glomus tumours are typically benign, although occasional cases have been reported to metastasize. 4 Malignant glomus tumours tend to be large (>20 mm), and to show atypical mitotic figures. 5 Immunohistochemical staining most frequently shows reactivity for a-smooth muscle actin, muscle-specific actin, vimentin, and calponin.…”

Rare presentation of a testicular glomus tumour

“…The majority of reported glomus tumours are cutaneous in location, situated in tissues where glomus bodies are more densely clustered in the stratum reticulare, the skin layer lying deep to the dermis 3. Their location in other extracutaneous sites has been documented, including the liver, glans penis, respiratory system and even the heart 4–8. These tumours are rarely formed in male reproductive tissues, with a paucity of published literature describing their occurrence in the scrotum and testicle 9–11…”