title: Multiple glomus tumors: recognition and diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm of uncommon occurrence in daily practice, more frequently observed as a single painful lesion, at the distal phalanges of the fingers. Multiple presentation is very rare, with fewer than 200 reports, usually presenting as small angiomatous lesions with discrete pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study's objective was to analyze the epidemiologic, clinical, therapeutic, and histopathologic aspects in a series of six cases of multiple glomus tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were men, between 12-45 years of age. The tumor was congenital or appeared between 3-25 years of age. The clinical picture oscillated between three to 10 lesions, as macules, nodules, or tumors, with colors varying from bluish, brown-bluish, violet, to normochromic. The lesions were detected in the trunk and one or more members, not affecting the head, hands, and feet. Pain was discrete or absent. Incisional biopsy for histopathologic evaluation with the hematoxylin-eosin staining confirmed the diagnosis of glomus tumor in all cases. It showed the characteristic glomus cells and vascular spaces. The complete excision of the tumorous plaque was performed in one patient and a complex corrective procedure is still to be performed for one aberrant tumor in another case. The other patients received advice about their disease and were asked to periodically return.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because this is a very uncommon illness, the present series allowed the demonstration of the wide variety of epidemiologic and clinical aspects described in the literature, with the presentation of elements that may improve its recognition and diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: The Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Praça Saens Pena 45/1101, 20520-090 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. antoniodacri@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Antonio Macedo
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: D'Acri
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos-e-Silva
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basílio-de-Oliveira
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Giovana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pretti
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology