A case of a symplastic glomus tumor

Abstract

A glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm of neuromyo-arterial glomus, composed of vascular channels surrounded by proliferating glomus cells and nerve fibers. Occasionally it displays unusual histopathologic features such as a large size, deep location, infiltrative growth, mitotic activity, nuclear pleomorphism, or necrosis. It can be diagnosed as an "atypical" glomus tumor, including malignant glomus tumor, glomus tumor of uncertain malignant potential, symplastic glomus tumor, or glomangiomatosis. Glomangiomatosis and symplastic glomus tumors reveal benign biologic behavior. We report a typical case of a symplastic glomus tumor, showing only marked nuclear atypia, compared with a classical glomus tumor.