Glomus tumor of the trachea: a rare case report

Abstract

A tracheal glomus tumor is extremely rare. There were approximately 18 reported cases before in China. Here we report a 48-year-old male with glomus tumor of the trachea. The computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed a nodulein the basalsegmentof right lower lobe, focal uplift in the left-posterior wall of the trachea, measured 1.5×1.2×1.0 cm. Microscopically, the tumor tissue was rich with vessels, shaped flake-nest, and the tumor consisted of a sheet of uniform cells surrounding the vascular spaces. Immumohistochemical staining were positive for SMA, vimentin, collagen IV, CD34, the Ki-67 proliferation activity was low (<1%), and were negative for Syn, CgA, S-100, AE1/AE3 and EMA. PSA staining showing clear cell borders. With a review of the literature, the clinical, pathological characteristics and treatment modalities of this rare tumor are discussed.

Keywords: Glomus tumor; differential diagnosis; immunohistochemistry; trachea.

Figure 1

A: The glomus tumor showing a hypervascular tumor composed of branching, dilated, thick-walled, vascular channels and thin-walled, no envelope and well circumscribed, and tumor tissue was rich in vessels, shaped flake-nest. (magnification, ×100); B: The tumor showing lobular arrangements of oval- to-spindle-shaped cells and slightly eosinophilic to cytoplasm surrounded thin-walled blood vessels, tumor stroma was transparent or myxoid (magnification, ×200).

Figure 2

A: Immuno-staining showing tumor cells strongly positive SMA (magnification, ×100); B: Positive for vimentin (magnification, ×100); C: Type IV collagen was positive in basilar membrane (magnification, ×400); D: PSA staining showing clear cell borders ((magnification, ×200); E: Ki-67 proliferation activity was less than 1% (magnification, ×100); F: Positive for CD34 (magnification, ×100).