[Extra-digital glomus tumor: a rare cause of neuralgia]

Abstract

We report three cases of extradigital glomus tumor mimicking neuralgia. The delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis ranged from 6 months to more than 10 years. None of the patients had spontaneous pain. Only palpation of a trigger-zone and movements elicited local pain and a sharp neuralgic pain (greater occipital nerve, medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, obturator nerve). Albeit atypical, such pain features must suggest the diagnosis of glomus tumor, the confirmation of which is only obtained by histologic examination. Complete excision was fully effective in all three cases.