Glomus tumor
A glomus tumor (also known as a "solitary glomus tumor") is a rare neoplasm arising from the glomus body and mainly found under the nail, on the fingertip or in the foot.: 670 They account for less than 2% of all soft tissue tumors. The majority of glomus tumors are benign, but they can also show malignant features. Glomus tumors were first described by Hoyer in 1877 while the first complete clinical description was given by Masson in 1924.
- Glomus tumor was also the name formerly (and incorrectly) used for a tumor now called a paraganglioma.
| Glomus tumor | |
|---|---|
| Micrograph of a glomus tumor. H&E stain. | |
| Specialty | Oncology |
Histologically, glomus tumors are made up of an afferent arteriole, anastomotic vessel, and collecting venule. Glomus tumors are modified smooth muscle cells that control the thermoregulatory function of dermal glomus bodies. As stated above, these lesions should not be confused with paragangliomas, which were formerly also called glomus tumors in now-antiquated clinical usage. Glomus tumors do not arise from glomus cells, but paragangliomas do.
Familial glomangiomas have been associated with a variety of deletions in the GLMN (glomulin) gene, and are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, with incomplete penetrance.