Glomus tumor presenting as a periurethral mass.
OBJECTIVE
Glomus tumors, a neoplasm arising from the glomus body, usually occur in the extremities with a particular predisposition to a subungual site. Glomus tumors are exceedingly rare in the external genitalia. In this case, the origin of a periurethral mass proved to be a glomus tumor.


METHODS
A 61-year-old woman presented with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination revealed a focally ulcerating, soft periurethral mass. A subsequent wedge biopsy of a periurethral, submucosal tumor was examined microscopically using both hematoxylin and eosin stains and an extensive immunohistochemical panel.


RESULTS
The initial histopathologic differential diagnosis of the wedge biopsy included several neoplasms, but final analysis, including immunohistochemistry (vimentin, desmin, and calponin positivity), concluded that the lesion was a glomus tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Periurethral masses are rare and may be caused by a large number of neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions. This case of glomus tumor presenting as a periurethral mass may be the only third reported occurrence.
Malowany
Janet I
JI
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Rieckenberg
R Mark
RM
Okafo
Benjamin A
BA
Colgan
Terence J
TJ
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D014521:Urethra / Q000473:pathology