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Case Reports
. 2023 Aug 21:11:2050313X231193984.
doi: 10.1177/2050313X231193984. eCollection 2023.

A case of solitary digital glomus tumor associated with neurofibromatosis type 1

Koichiro Yanai  1 , Tsuyoshi Tajika  2 , Takuro Kuboi  1 , Yuhei Hatori  1 , Takahiro Umeyama  1 , Shinsuke Arisawa  1 , Ayaka Katayama  3 , Takaaki Sano  3 , Hirotaka Chikuda  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A case of solitary digital glomus tumor associated with neurofibromatosis type 1

Koichiro Yanai et al. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

An association between glomus tumor and neurofibromatosis type 1 has been reported. It is characterized by multiple tumors and young age at onset. The early diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 is important because it is associated with a high rate of malignancy. A 25-year-old man presented to our hospital with left index finger pain that had persisted for 6 years. Physical and imaging findings suggested a benign soft-tissue tumor. Surgery was performed, and the tumor was pathologically diagnosed as glomus tumor. In this case, the patient with a young-onset glomus tumor was suspected of having neurofibromatosis type 1. An additional medical examination led to the diagnosis of unrecognized neurofibromatosis type 1. We experienced a case in which the onset of a glomus tumor led to the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1. Comorbid neurofibromatosis type 1 should be kept in mind when glomus tumors are diagnosed.

Keywords: Neurofibromatosis type 1; complications; diagnosis; glomus tumor; solitary.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Plain radiograph of the left index finger showed no morphological changes in the bone. (a) Anteroposterior view and (b) lateral view.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Contrast-enhanced MRI showed a nodular lesion with low intensity on T1, high intensity on T2/STIR, and contrast effect on the ulnar side under the left index finger nail. (a) T1 axial, (b) STIR, and (c) Contrast-enhanced axial.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The nail plate and nail bed were lifted and expanded, and a mass of approximately φ3–4 mm was found between the nail bed and the distal phalanx.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Glomus cells with small round nuclei and acidophilic cytoplasm proliferating in alveolar configuration. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, original magnification 100×, 200× (inset). (b) Immunostaining was positive for smooth muscle actin. Immunostaining, original magnification 200×.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Multiple brown macules and soft masses, thought to be café-au-lait spots and neurofibroma were observed. (a) Thoracic abdomen, (b) Back, (c) Upper buttock.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Anteroposterior plain radiograph shows scoliosis with a Cobb angle of approximately 15°.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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