Abstract
Glomus tumors are rare neoplasms of the hand. Seventeen patients (11 females and 6 males) underwent surgical excision of glomus tumors. Their mean age was 53 years (46 to 77 years). Seven of the 17 patients had been managed under a different diagnosis and 4 were diagnosed as normal at their prior hospital. In 6 of the 17 patients, plain radiographs revealed cortical scalloping of the affected phalanx. The lesion was visualized by magnetic resonance imaging in all patients. Fifteen patients underwent surgical excision in winter. The transungual approach was employed for 16 patients, and the lateral subperiosteal approach was used for 1 patient. Complete pain relief was achieved in all patients, and 2 patients who were treated with the transungual approach had postoperative nail deformities. During the procedure, especially at the time of tumor extirpation and repair of the nail bed, microscopy was useful to obtain a good operation field. No complications or tumor recurrence occurred during the follow-up period.
Patients with glomus tumors are often misdiagnosed. Surgical excision of the tumor results in rapid symptom relief. Clinical findings, including pain, cold sensitivity, and nail deformities, and imaging methods are helpful for diagnosing glomus tumors, and facilitate the detection and precise localization of small lesions.
