Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Glomus tumour: a disabling but curable chronic pain syndrome—a retrospective observational study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Glomus is uncommon benign tumours presenting as a form of chronic pain syndrome that is often disabling with resultant poor quality of life. The lack of an imaging protocol further impedes timely diagnosis, especially when presenting atypically. The objective of this study aims to reflect on the efficacy of imaging modalities based on strong clinical suspicion for glomus tumours.

Methods

This is an observational retrospective study recorded over a decade in 23 patients who presented with neuropathic pain and symptoms suspicious of glomus tumours to the outpatient departments of neurology and plastic surgery of a single hospital centre with quaternary level of health care.

Results

Twenty-two patients had presented with the classical symptoms of pain and pinpoint tenderness while 7 had temperature sensitivity. Imaging studies were done in 19 patients. There was preponderance of thumb followed by the middle finger with regard to presenting site, the mean age of the patient was close to 39 years and mean duration of presentation was approximately 3.5 years. A rare case of disuse atrophy associated with the presence of glomus tumour in the midsole of the left foot in one of our patients diagnosed solely through MRI of the foot is detailed as well in this study.

Conclusions

We emphasise on the need for a high index of clinical suspicion and vigilance aided by ultrasound and MRI when pain and disability are almost always disproportionate to the size of the affected area. Prompt diagnosis leads to early surgical excision providing relief.

Level of evidence

Level IV, Diagnostic

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.

References

  1. Boussakri H, Elibrahimi A, Hahem C et al (2016) Les tumeurs glomiques de la main: une étude rétrospective de 11 cas (Glomus tumors of the hand: a retrospective study of 11 cases). Pan Afr Med J 24:262

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Masson P (1924) Le lomus neuromyoarteriel des regions tactiles et ses tumeurs. Lyon Chirurgical 21:257–80.x

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wood W (1812) On Painful Subcutaneous Tubercle. Edinb Med Surg J 8(31):283–291

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Santoshi JA, Kori VK, Khurana U (2019) Glomus tumor of the fingertips: a frequently missed diagnosis. J Family Med Prim Care 8(3):904–908

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Kumar S, Tiwary SK, More R, Kumar P, Khanna AK (2020) Digital glomus tumor: an experience of 57 cases over 20 years. J Family Med Prim Care 9(7):3514–3517

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Bisceglia M, Bisceglia S, Ciampi C, Panniello G, Galliani C (2018) Glomus coccygeum: a review. Pathologica 110(4):287–293

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jing H, Weiwen C, Meihong C, Xiaohong G (2022) Glomus tumour of the iris: a case report. Eur J Ophthalmol 32(1):NP203–NP207

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Novis E, Raman A, Maclean F, Lazzaro E (2018) Glomus tumour of the kidney: a case report and review of the literature. ANZ J Surg 88(6):653–654

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Quah BL, Donofrio CA, La Rosa S et al (2021) Primary glomus tumour of the pituitary gland: diagnostic challenges of a rare and potentially aggressive neoplasm. Virchows Arch 478(5):977–984

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tullie STE, Quraishi MK, Karawita T, Anjarwalla S (2019) Rare presentation of a testicular glomus tumour. BMJ Case Rep 12(11):e230935

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Idoudi S, Arousse A, Boussofara L (2019) Glomus tumor of the buttock. Dermatol Pract Concept 9(4):318–319

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen IY, Fazili BG, Liao X (2020) Glomus tumor of the colon: a rare case report and review of literature. Int J Surg Pathol 28(6):691–695

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sasaki S, Takami Y, Wada Y et al (2020) Glomus tumor of the duodenum: a rare case report. Surg Case Rep 6(1):305

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Tewattanarat N, Srinakarin J, Wongwiwatchai J et al (2020) Imaging of a glomus tumor of the liver in a child. Radiol Case Rep 15(4):311–315

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Tamaki I, Hosoda Y, Sasano H et al (2020) Primary pancreatic glomus tumor invading into the superior mesenteric vein: a case report. Surg Case Rep 6(1):279

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Lin J, Shen J, Yue H, Li Q, Cheng Y, Zhou M (2020) Gastric glomus tumor: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 21 cases. Biomed Res Int 2020:5637893

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Nakajima E, Takashi H, Taira O et al (2021) Glomus tumor in a segmental bronchus: a case report. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 27(6):407–409

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhao SN, Jin Y, Xie HK, Wu CY, Li Y, Zhang LP (2020) Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi 49(12):1282–1287

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Sbai MA, Benzarti S, Gharbi W, Khoffi W, Maalla R (2018) Glomus tumor of the leg: a case report. Pan Afr Med J 31:186

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Kunz EM, Ram B (2020) Atypical presentation of a glomus tumor in the rearfoot: a case report. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 110(6). https://doi.org/10.7547/19-184

  21. Glazebrook KN, Most MJ, Schiefer TK, Inwards CY, Sim FH (2010) Multiple glomus tumors of the lower leg. J Ultrasound Med 29(4):667–670

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hufschmidt K, Foissac R, Camuzard O, Cardot-Leccia N, Chignon-Sicard B, Balaguer T (2017) Glomus tumors of the upper limb: single-center retrospective study of clinical and functional outcomes. Hand Surg Rehabil 36(4):290–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Grover C, Jayasree P, Kaliyadan F (2021) Clinical and onychoscopic characteristics of subungual glomus tumor: a cross-sectional study. Int J Dermatol 60(6):693–702

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Akechi Y, Miura S, Ochi M et al (2021) Unilateral lower limb atrophy associated with glomus tumors: a case report. J Med Case Rep 15(1):8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Rodríguez JM, Idoate MA, Pardo-Mindán FJ (2003) The role of mast cells in glomus tumours: report of a case of an intramuscular glomus tumour with a prominent mastocytic component. Histopathology 42(3):307–308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Cooke SA (1971) Misleading features in the clinical diagnosis of the peripheral glomus tumour. Br J Surg 58(8):602–606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kloping LP, Widhiyanto L, Irianto KA, Sindrawati O, Kloping YP (2020) Glomus tumor-induced lower extremity pain: a case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 75:352–356

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Morey VM, Garg B, Kotwal PP (2016) Glomus tumours of the hand: review of literature. J Clin Orthop Trauma 7(4):286–291

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Otsu A (1977) Glomus tumour and pain. Pain 3:88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Colorado B (2021) Sonographic imaging of an atypical glomus tumor. PM R 13(1):103–104

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors declare that no financial support or funding of any kind was received for the preparation of this manuscript and its submission.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Manipal Hospitals, 98 HAL Old Airport Road, Kodihalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560017, India

    Sreevishnu Venkata Phanipawan Kalaga, Pramod Krishnan & Uday Murgod

  2. Department of Plastic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru, India

    Anantheswar Nagaraja Rao Yellambalase, Ashok Chandrappa Basur, Srikanth Vasudevan & Harish Kumar Kabilan

  3. Department of Radiology, Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru, India

    Seema Janardhan

  4. Department of Pathology, Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru, India

    Susmita Rakshit

Authors
  1. Sreevishnu Venkata Phanipawan Kalaga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pramod Krishnan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Uday Murgod
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anantheswar Nagaraja Rao Yellambalase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ashok Chandrappa Basur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Srikanth Vasudevan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Harish Kumar Kabilan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Seema Janardhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Susmita Rakshit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The study was planned and drafted by Dr Sreevishnu Kalaga V P. Patients were consulted by Dr Pramod and Dr Uday Murgod and were reviewed and referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery. Dr Anantheswar Y N, Dr Ashok B C and Dr Srikant V operated on the patients and reviewed their follow-up in the outpatient services post-op with assistance from Dr Harish Kumar Kabilan. Data collection and compilation were done by Dr Sreevishnu Kalaga V P and Dr Harish Kumar Kabilan. Relevant statistical measures were performed by Dr Sreevishnu Kalaga V P. Radiological data and figure legends were provided by Dr Seema Janardhan and histopathological reports were given by Dr Susmita Rakshit H. The final draft was proofread by Dr Sreevishnu Kalaga V P and Dr Pramod Krishnan and reviewed by all authors before submission. The corresponding author attests that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no others meeting the criteria have been omitted.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pramod Krishnan.

Ethics declarations

Patient consent

All patients have given informed consent for this study. All the patient’s details have been sufficiently anonymised.

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The Local Ethics Committee confirmed that approval was not required for this study.

Competing interests

Sreevishnu Kalaga V P, Pramod Krishnan, Uday Murgod, Anantheswar Y N, Ashok B C, Srikanth V, Harish Kumar Kabilan, Seema Janardhan and Susmita Rakshit H declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kalaga, S.V., Krishnan, P., Murgod, U. et al. Glomus tumour: a disabling but curable chronic pain syndrome—a retrospective observational study. Eur J Plast Surg 46, 1237–1246 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02120-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02120-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation