Multiple Nontender Glomus Tumors

Subungual Glomus Tumor: A Clinico‐Pathological Study

“…In contrast, a lesion in the multiple type has larger vascular spaces (so‐called glomangiomas), irregular in shape and surrounded by only a narrow rim of one to three layers of characteristic cells; 13 in some cases there may not be surrounding cells 14 . Moreover multiple glomus tumors do not have capsules and with the Bodian stain, the number of nerve fibers is found to be normal 15 . The characteristic cells of glomus tumors, formerly thought to be epithelioid cells, are large, oval or cuboidal cells with cytoplasms that are lightly eosinophilic and pale ovoid nuclei.…”

Laser Treatment of Hereditary Multiple Glomus Tumors

“…The symptom of pain associated with the solitary type of glomus tumor is well known and could possibly be attributed to the tumor being confined within tight structures and excessive proliferation of nerve fibers 12 . A less well‐known fact is that in many of the multiple glomus tumors cited in the literature and in the presently reported cases, pain has been a troublesome symptom associated with the lesions.…”

Painful Tumors of the Skin

“…In general, increased numbers of nerve fibers are detected in solitary glomus tumors, which are usually painful, while nerve fibers are not increased in multiple glomus tumors, which are more often nonpain‐ful. Gordon and Hyman 17 noted no increase in nerve fibers in 4 lesions from a case of multiple nonpainful glomus tumors 17 . Gupta et al 18 demonstrated by Bodian stain myelinated nerve bundles in the stroma surrounding areas of glomus cell proliferation in a case of multiple painful glomus tumors.…”

“…Therefore, even in multiple tumors, the relation of pain to the number of nerve fibers is upheld. Additionally, it has been proposed that the increased nonacral location of multiple glomus tumors accounts for the decreased frequency of pain: the tumor is allowed to expand in this location without compressing nerves 17 . Treatment of multiple tumors with surgical excision is sometimes not possible.…”