Subungual glomus tumour: magnetic resonance imaging findings

The present study aims to present a case of a subungual glomus tumour with literature to the findings on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. A 51-year-old man consulted his physician because of a pain in the nail bed of his thumb, which he had had for 2 years. A plain radiography and MR examination was performed. Physical examination showed a blue-brown focus beneath the nail and there was deformation. A plain radiography demonstrated no abnormality. T1-weighted spin-echo images showed a well-marginated, oval, slightly hyperintense lesion (4 mm diameter) located in the subungual region. On turbo spin-echo T2-weighted images the lesion was hyperintense with a hypointense rim. T1-weighted spin-echo images after intravenous administration of contrast medium showed strong enhancement. The lesion was completely excised at surgery and the diagnosis of a glomus tumour was established histologically. In conclusion, MR imaging offers excellent diagnostic information about a clinically suspected glomus tumour.