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Imaging features of glomus tumors
Katrina N Glazebrook1, Bryan J Laundre, Terry K Schiefer
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. glazebrook.katrina@mayo.edu
Skeletal Radiology
|November 25, 2010
Summary
Glomus tumors cause chronic pain and appear as small, vascular masses. Imaging, particularly MRI, aids diagnosis, leading to effective surgical treatment for pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Glomus tumors are rare neoplasms arising from glomus bodies.
- They often present with severe, localized pain, frequently misdiagnosed.
- Understanding imaging characteristics is crucial for timely diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate imaging findings with pathologic features and clinical presentation of glomus tumors.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different imaging modalities in glomus tumor detection.
- To highlight the diagnostic utility of imaging in managing glomus tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of surgical pathology database for pathologically confirmed glomus tumors (1997-2010).
- Inclusion of patients with available imaging results.
- Analysis of ultrasonography, color Doppler, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
Main Results:
- Glomus tumors typically cause prolonged, debilitating pain (mean 7.2 years).
- Mean tumor size was 13 mm, commonly affecting extremities (48% upper, 48% lower).
- Ultrasonography showed well-circumscribed, vascular lesions; MRI with point tenderness localization was optimal for small tumors, revealing high T2 signal and uniform enhancement.
Conclusions:
- Imaging suggests glomus tumor with a small, circumscribed mass at point tenderness, showing vascularity on Doppler or enhancement on MRI.
- Early recognition through characteristic imaging findings facilitates surgical resection.
- Complete resolution of chronic pain is achievable with prompt diagnosis and treatment.
