Pulmonary Glomus Tumor

Abstract

Glomus tumors, which account for less than 2% of soft tissue tumors, are a rare benign soft tissue neoplasm. They originated from neuro-myo-arterial glomus tissue whose primary function is regulation of the body temperature. This tissue is commonly located in the dermis or subcutis in the subungual region; however, it can be extracutaneous such as in bones, the genitourinary tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory tract. Histologically, a glomus tumor is made of proliferating rounded or cuboidal epithelioid cells in a meshwork of blood vessels. Although a benign growth, they can rarely show malignant features with infiltration of surrounding tissue with the rapid multiplication of cells in which case it is labeled as a malignant glomus tumor. Pulmonary glomus tumors are extremely rare and most commonly occur in middle-aged men. They are mostly asymptomatic, but a small percentage of patients may present with hemoptysis and cough if there is large airway involvement. We present an interesting case of a middle-aged man presenting with cough and occasional hemoptysis, found to have an endobronchial nodular lesion, and subsequently diagnosed with a pulmonary glomus tumor.

Keywords: benign lung nodule; endobronchial nodule; glomus tumor; isolated lung nodule; pulmonary glomus tumor.

Figure 1. Bronchoscopic view of the right mainstem bronchus.

A rounded lesion within the right mainstem bronchus was noted (arrowhead).