[Glomus tumours of the hand. About 10 cases]

Abstract

Background: The glomus tumour is a rare benign cutaneous tumour, it is characterized by its clinical and evolutive particular features.

Aim: The aim of this work is to bring out the various characteristics of the glomus tumours of the hand which remain relatively ignored by practioners.

Methods: The authors report a series of 10 cases of glomus tumours of the hand, the mean age at the moment of diagnosis was 36 years with a female prevalence of 70% of the cases. The diagnosis delay average was 2 years and half. The tumour was located on the right side in 6 cases and on the left one in 4 cases. The glomus tumour was developed under the nail in 8 cases and was latero pulpar in the both other cases. The diagnosis of glomus tumour was clinical in front of the existence of the three painful symptoms: spontaneous pain, pain on the cold and pain on the pressure. An RMI complement was carried out for two patients having no univocal symptomatology what made possible to confirm the diagnosis and to locate the tumour. A surgical biopsy of the tumour was performed for all patients. The histological study confirmed our clinical and per operational presumptions and showed a glomus tumour.

Results: After one year and two months of average retreat, our patients announced a spectacular transformation of their daily activities because of the disappearance of painful symptomatology, two cases of nail dystrophia were noted and there was no recurrence.

Conclusion: The glomus tumour are rare benign cutaneous tumours, its diagnostic is essentially clinical and the treatment is exclusively surgical.