Multiple Glomus Tumors: Recognition and Diagnosis

Abstract

Because this is a very uncommon illness, the present series allowed the demonstration of the wide variety of epidemiologic and clinical aspects described in the literature, with the presentation of elements that may improve its recognition and diagnosis.

Double Glomus Tumors Originating in the Submandibular and Parotid Regions

“…Immunostaining with antismooth muscle actin, however, highlights the tumor cells and, together with negative cytokeratin staining, rules out any suspicion of cystic sialoadenoma. In contrast to solitary glomus tumors, which tend to occur in adulthood, multiple glomus tumors are thought to appear more commonly in childhood or adolescence (8), with rare onset after the age of 30 (9, 10). Review of the previously reported cases of multiple glomus tumors revealed a slight male predominance (8).…”

“…In contrast to solitary glomus tumors, which tend to occur in adulthood, multiple glomus tumors are thought to appear more commonly in childhood or adolescence (8), with rare onset after the age of 30 (9, 10). Review of the previously reported cases of multiple glomus tumors revealed a slight male predominance (8). Sixty percent of multiple glomus cases had a positive family history, supporting the belief that this abnormality is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.…”

Paragangliomas and paraganglioma syndromes

“…The term glomus tumor is somewhat confusing though, since it may easily be mixed up with a benign tumor of the subcutaneous skin, the so called glomangioma [2], [14], [15]. The term chemodectoma has first been used by Mulligan in 1950 [16].…”