Presentation and Management Outcome of Glomus Tumors of the Hand

Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER

Author

Department of Plastic Surgery, NIRM, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: To document the clinical presentation of glomus tumors of the hand and evaluate the outcome of
complete surgical excision in terms of relief of symptoms, any postoperative nail deformities and tumor recurrence over
a period of one year.
Methods: This descriptive case series spanned over a period of twelve years. All patients of either gender and all ages
who had histologically confirmed glomus tumors of the hands were included. All of them underwent surgical excision
under local anesthesia.
Results: Out of 17 patients, majority (n=12; 70.58%) were females. The mean age was 41.17±13.7 years. The
dominant hand was involved in 11 (64.70%) patients. There were 14 patients (82.35%) with subungual tumors whereas
3(17.64%) had volar pulp glomus tumors. The mean diagnostic delay was 18.88±9.3 months. The tumor size ranged
from 2 mm to 1.1cm with a mean of 4.05±4.3mm. All the patients (n=17,100%) experienced complete symptomatic
relief within 2-4 weeks after surgical excision. There were no postoperative nail deformities. There was no recurrence
over a period of one year.
Conclusion: Glomus tumors of the hands were more frequently found among women in their fourth and fifth decades.
Dominant hand, index finger and distal phalanx represented the commonest affected anatomic locales. Majority of the
tumors were subungual. Majority of the patients suffered over 12 months in distressful pain before being diagnosed.
Complete surgical excision under local anesthesia provided rapid relief of the symptoms. Creation of awareness about
the tumor among doctors as well as public would help to ensure early presentation to plastic surgeon, prompt diagnosis
and hence avoidance of the prolonged periods of agonizing misery.
Level of evidence: III

Keywords

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 9, Issue 3
May 2021
Pages 312-318

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 April 2020
  • Revise Date: 16 July 2020
  • Accept Date: 11 August 2020

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