Glomus tumor as a cause of chronic low back pain: case report.
METHODS
A case of chronic low back pain caused by a glomus tumor that persisted more than 30 years is presented.


OBJECTIVE
To emphasize the need to consider skin tumors in the differential diagnosis of low back pain.


BACKGROUND
Chronic low back pain can be caused by a myriad of factors. There are six relatively common skin tumors, which present as painful lesions. As seen in the reported case, if they occur in the lumbar region, they can cause low back pain.


METHODS
A subject with low back pain underwent an excision biopsy of a localized area of tenderness where his symptoms were reproduced when light pressure was applied.


RESULTS
Histology confirmed that a glomus tumor accounted for the subject's pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Painful skin tumors may cause low back pain and need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic low back pain.
Ogboli
Malobi I
MI
Department of Dermatology, Walsgrave Hospital Coventry, United Kingdom. malobi@doctors.org.uk
Ilchyshyn
Andrew
A
Walker
R S
RS
Snead
D
D
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged