Problems with diagnostic work-up of musculoskeletal pain due to glomus tumour. Four case reports.
BACKGROUND
Glomus tumours are rare benign neoplasms of myoepithelial origin. Due to characteristic and painful symptoms, glomus tumours are a major clinical problem.


METHODS
Four histologically confirmed cases of glomangioma treated at the Orthopaedics & Traumatology Department between 1999 and 2007.


RESULTS
The most significant symptom was extreme pain causing a decrease in the quality of life. Regardless of the location of the tumour, the correct diagnosis was delayed by 1.5 to 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to its rare occurrence, glomus tumours are often missed out in the differential diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain. The agonising pain makes glomus tumours a significant clinical problem that should be remembered about, especially as surgery brings about spectacular improvement.
Puchała
Małgorzata
M
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. m_puchala@o2.pl
Kruczyński
Jacek
J
Szukalski
Jacenty
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*