Multifocal diffuse glomus tumor. A case report of glomangiomyoma and review of the literature

Abstract

The case examined was a multifocal diffuse glomus tumor covering most of the right leg of a 24-year-old woman. The lesion, present at birth, had never caused any symptoms. Macroscopically, it had a simulangiomatous aspect, whereas histologically it was identified as a glomangiomyoma. The Authors have examined 26 (46.4%) of the 56 cases of multiple tumors reported to date. Multiple glomus tumors are benign lesions, which generally appear at an early age (70% by the age of 20), with no clear distinction between the two sexes. The lesions usually occur on the upper limbs, which account for 80% of the cases. Pain is reported in half of the cases. There are 3 histological types: "sensu strictu" glomus tumor, glomangioma and glomangiomyoma; the glomangioma being the most frequent (80.8%) as compared to 19.2% for the glomangiomyomatosis type. No case of "sensu strictu" glomus tumor was observed.