• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 2015

Background Glomus tumors were first described by Wood in 1812 as painful subcutaneous tubercles. It is an uncommon benign neoplasm involving the glomus body, an apparatus that involves in thermoregulation of cutaneous microvasculature. Glomus tumor constitutes 1%-5% of all hand tumors. It usually occurs at the subungual region and more commonly in aged women. Its classical clinical triad consists of pain, tenderness and temperature intolerance, especially cold sensitivity. This study reviews 15 cases of glomus tumor which were analyzed according to its anatomic location, surgical approach and histologic findings. Methods Fifteen patients with subungual glomus tumors of the hand operated on between January 2006 and March 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were evaluated preoperatively with standard physical examination including ice cube test and Love's test. Diagnostic imaging consisted of ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. All procedures were performed with tourniquet control under local anesthesia. Eleven patients underwent excision using the transungual approach, 3 patients using the volar approach and 1 patient using the lateral subperiosteal approach. Results Total of 15 cases were reviewed. 11 tumors were located in the nail bed, 3 in the volar pulp and 1 in the radial aspect of the finger tip. After complete excision, patients remained asymptomatic in the immediate postoperative period. In the long term follow up, patients exhibited excellent cosmetic results with no recurrence. Conclusions Accurate diagnosis should be made by physical, radiologic and pathologic examinations. Preoperative localization and complete extirpation is essential in preventing recurrence and subsequent nail deformity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.440-443
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• 2011

A glomus tumor is an uncommon soft tissue tumor that is most commonly found in the subungual area and a glomus originating in the trachea is extremely rare. Histologically and ultrastructurally, these tumors have been divided into three subtypes: classic glomus tumors, glomangiomas, and glomangiomyomas. Glomangiomyomas account for less than 10% of all glomus tumors and are the least common type. We report a case of a 54-year-old man with glomangiomyoma of the trachea who presented with stridor. We treated the tumor by segmental resection and primary repair via a transcervical approach.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2012

Purpose: We reviewed 66 cases of the glomus tumors in the hands. The purpose of this study was to review the characteristic signs and symptoms of glomus tumors and the surgical outcomes. We made hypothesis that (1) our guideline for surgical excision are reliable and (2) our surgical technique is efficient and less harmful to the nail root. Materials and Methods: The clinical diagnosis was made with occasional radiological studies and surgical excision was performed according to our indications. Patients with electrical shock-like pain by touching (the essential symptom) and at least 2 of 4 clinical signs and symptoms (cold hypersensitivity, paroxysmal pain that radiated proximally, blue discoloration, nail deformity for dorsal tumor or a palpable nodule for pulp tumor) underwent surgical excision. Results: The duration of symptoms of the patients was about 5.3 years. No difference of prevalence was found in both hands, but the thumb and the middle finger were more affected than the other fingers. The mean follow up period was 2.4 years and none of the patients complained the same characteristic pain at the last visit. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this report is the largest case series about glomus tumors in the finger tip. The clinical signs and symptoms are important to make a diagnosis of glomus tumors, and surgical excision is the treatment of choice.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2001

Purpose : Authors investigated the efficiency of preoperative MRI in suspicious glomus tumor and the clinical outcomes after marginal excision. Materials and Methods : In 10 cases of glomus tumors in the fingers, authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, including previous trauma, treatment history, preoperative symptoms, physical examination, plain radiography, MRI (9 cases), pathological findings and postoperative complications. Results : The patients had pain in 10 cases, tenderness in 9 cases, cold sensitivity in 3 cases and edema in one case. MRI showed low signal (3 cases) or iso-signal (5) intensity on T1 weighted image, high signal intensity (8) on T2 weighted image, and all the lesions were enhanced in gadolinium enhancement images. The exact locations of glomus tumors were median in 6 cases, lateral in 5, lateral fold in 2 and pulp in 3 in transverse section and nail bed in 5 cases and nail matrix in 5 in sagittal section. Marginal excision was performed by lateral approach in one case and transungual in 9 cases. Histologically, all 10 cases were composed of solid sheets of round cells interrupted by thin-walled blood vessels. Most of clinical symptoms were disappeared in all cases after operation. Nail deformity was found in one case, which was originated from nail matrix, however, there was no recurrence. Summary : Clinical symptom was the most impotant factor in diagnosis of glomus tumor in the fingers. However, preoperative MRIs were helpful in patients, who had obscure pain or prolonged clinical symptoms with suspicious glomus tumors. Preoperative MRI might be one of the most useful tools for establishing the exact diagnosis and detecting the location of glomus tumors, in spite of the relatively high expenses.