Aspiration cytology of glomus tumor: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Glomus tumor is a relatively uncommon soft tissue tumor that can occur at any age and anatomic site, with a predilection for the subungual region.


METHODS
A 24-year-old female presented with a gradually enlarging, painful swelling in the subungual region of the right index finger. Fine needle aspiration was performed under a ring block and yielded hemorrhagic material. The smears revealed clusters of uniform, round to oval cells admixed with wisps of magenta intercellular myxoid material and a few spindle-shaped cells crossing clusters of tumor cells. A diagnosis of benign vascular tumor consistent with glomus tumor was given. Subsequent histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis and showed alpha-SMA positivity on immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report is the second on the cytologic features of glomus tumor in the English-language literature. Although the cytomorphologic features of glomus tumor are quite distinctive, an appropriate clinical history and immunohistochemical stains (e.g., alpha-SMA and vimentin positivity) can further help to ascertain the diagnosis.
Handa
U
U
Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, India.
Palta
A
A
Mohan
H
H
Punia
R P
RP
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D000199:Actins; D014746:Vimentin