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Subungual glomus tumor diagnosis based on imaging
Noriko Takemura1, Norikazu Fujii, Toshihiro Tanaka
1Division of Dermatology, Higashi-Ohmi Keiai Hospital, Shiga, Japan. takemura@keiaikai.or.jp
The Journal of Dermatology
|May 17, 2006
Summary
A rare subungual glomus tumor caused chronic thumb pain and nail deformity. Preoperative imaging accurately diagnosed and located the tumor, enabling safe surgical removal.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Subungual glomus tumors are rare, benign neoplasms originating from glomus bodies.
- They can cause significant pain, nail changes, and diagnostic challenges due to their location.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old woman presented with over 20 years of right thumb nail bed tenderness, exacerbated by cold exposure over the last 5-6 years.
- Clinical examination revealed nail plate deformity, proximal nail bed redness, and a distal longitudinal fissure.
Findings:
- Ultrasonography identified a well-circumscribed, hypoechoic area beneath the nail plate and matrix with subtle flow signals on Doppler.
- MRI confirmed a well-circumscribed mass, isointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2-weighted images.
- Radiography showed subtle dorsal bone erosion of the distal phalanx.
Implications:
- Histological examination confirmed a subungual glomus tumor.
- Preoperative imaging (ultrasonography, MRI, radiography) precisely determined the tumor's location and size.
- Complete and safe surgical excision was achieved, highlighting the utility of imaging in diagnosing nail unit tumors.