Multiple glomus tumors: recognition and diagnosis.
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.
D'Acri
Antonio Macedo
AM
The Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Praça Saens Pena 45/1101, 20520-090 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. antoniodacri@uol.com.br
Ramos-e-Silva
Marcia
M
Basílio-de-Oliveira
Carlos
C
Cerqueira
Ana
A
Monteiro
Daniela
D
Pretti
Giovana
G
Longo
Cristiana
C
Monteiro
Erica
E
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