Abstract
A solitary glomus tumor was studied by electron microscopy and fluorescence histochemistry for sympathetic nerve fibers. On electron microscopic observations showing abundant microfilaments with dense bodies, this tumor was well differentiated from the smooth muscles. On the other hand, many sympathetic nerve fibers were observed in the stroma of the tumor, but few in the parenchyma. This distribution was similar to that of the normal glomus. Comparing this study to the previous report showing a dense distribution of sympathetic nerves in the parenchyma of an undifferentiated glomus tumor, a converse relationship was found between the distribution of sympathetic nerve fibers in the parenchyma and the degree of differentiation of glomus tumors.
