Glomus tumor natural history

If left untreated, patients with glomus tumors may progress to develop pain and nail discoloration. A common complication of the glomus tumor is malignant change in multiple tumors. Common complications of glomus tumors post operatively include nail deformities and recurrence. Prognosis is generally excellent for solitary glomus tumors and malignant glomus tumors treated with wide excision. However, the prognosis is poor for malignant glomus tumors with widespread metastases.

If left untreated, patients with glomus tumors may progress to develop pain and nail discoloration.^[1]

• A common complication of the glomus tumor is malignant change in multiple glomus tumors (glomangiosarcomas).
  • Very rare and usually only locally invasive
  • Widespread metastases may occur which are fatal
• Common complications of glomus tumors post operatively include:^[1]
  • Nail deformity
  • Recurrence
    • Recurrence is thought to be a result of incomplete excision or, in the case of late recurrence, development of a new lesion at or near the excision site. Excision of the capsule of the tumor is required to prevent local recurrence.^[2]
• Glomus tumors may recur locally:^[3]
  • 10% of cases
  • Usually infiltrative lesions
• Malignant glomus tumors are exceptional and include:^[4]
  • Glomus tumors showing marked nuclear atypia along with any mitotic activity
  • Glomus tumors containing atypical mitotic figures

Prognosis is generally excellent for solitary glomus tumors and malignant glomus tumors treated with wide excision.

However, the prognosis is poor for malignant glomus tumors with widespread metastases.^[5]

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