Epidemiological Analysis of Glomus Tumors of the Hand and Association with Recurrence Rate

Abstract

Introduction Glomus tumors are benign, characterized by microvascular alteration, and mostly found in the subungual region of the hand. They are rare and associated with paroxysmal pain, tenderness on palpation, and thermal sensitivity. The aim of the present research was to analyze the epidemiology of glomus tumors and relate each of the variables with cases of recurrence. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of medical records was undertaken in our hospital to collect epidemiological numerical variables (time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis and surgery, age, size of the tumor on magnetic resonance imaging and the histopathological examination, time until recurrence and reoperation after surgery, duration of the follow-up) and categorical variables (gender, ethnicity, laterality, affected finger, location in the hand, surgical technique, smoking, preoperative symptoms, recurrence, and comorbidities). Then, we performed a statistical analysis to identify possible associations of the hand tumors with recurrences. Results The review identified 66 patients with glomus tumors 52 of which were located in the hand. The mean age of the sample was 49 years, and it was mostly composed of white female patients. Pain was the main related symptom, and most tumors presented sizes between 5 mm and 1 cm. Among the 52 patients, 11 cases presented recurrences, with a mean time until onset of 39.4 months, but 3 of them were initially operated on at other hospitals. None of the variables was shown to be a predictor of recurrence, although we saw that bone involvement on radiographs was only present in certain cases of recurrence. Conclusion The sample studied was large for this rare disease, and reinforced previous results regarding its epidemiology. As 54% of the cases of recurrence occurred at least twice, we think that genetic, histological and immunohistochemical analyses should be the focus of futures studies, as well as a search for bone and tendon involvement.

Glomus Tumors: A Systematic Review of the Sub-Saharan Africa Experience

“…The average time from initial presentation with a complaint to diagnosis amongst 27 patients was 5.6 years, with a range of 3 months to 20 years (Table 2 ); this prolonged delay in treatment is universal, and not peculiar to this sub-Saharan series. 35 …”

Tumor Glômico Gástrico: Um caso raro de neoplasia benigna

“…A idade média dos pacientes analisados é de 49 anos e o tamanho médio dos tumores estão em torno de 5 mm e 1 cm, considerando que a localização da maior parte dos tumores estava localizada nas extremidades. Aproximadamente 85 % dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino e apenas 15 % do total de pacientes relataram ser tabagistas ou ex-tabagistas, o que não permite afirmar a relação direta entre esta comorbidade e a ocorrência de tumores glômicos (Guedes, et al, 2022).…”