Intravenous glomus tumour of the upper arm

Glomus tumours are rare, benign tumours of the glomus body, most frequently located in the subungual region of digits, palms and soles, but they have been reported throughout the body. Our patient is a 65-year-old man who presented with a 3-year history of a very painful area on his left upper arm. The overlying skin was normal and there was no lesion to palpate, but the symptoms were very striking, warranting further investigation. An exploratory operation identified a prominent vein with a noticeable bulge in the vessel wall. The vein was ligated and excised. On dissection of the vein, a tumour was present within its lumen. Histological examination and immune profile of the tumour confirmed an intravascular glomus tumour. Following surgical excision, symptoms resolved.