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Glomus tumor other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Soujanya Thummathati, MBBS [2] Roukoz A. Karam, M.D.[3]

Overview

Overview

Other diagnostic studies for glomus tumor include immunohistochemistry staining, which demonstrates glomus cells positive for vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin and negative for desmin.[1]

Other Diagnostic Studies

Other Diagnostic Studies

  • Other diagnostic studies for glomus tumor include immunohistochemistry staining, which demonstrates the following:[1][2]
    • Glomus cells stain positive for:
      • Alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)
        • ~100%
      • MSA
        • 95%
      • Vimentin
    • Glomus cells stain negative for:
  • Other diagnostic studies for glomus tumors include clinical tests, such as:
    • Love test[3][4]
      • Orientative
      • Probing with a needle or pointed instrument triggers pain in the affected area but not the area immediately adjacent to it
      • Sensitivity= 100%
      • Specificity= 0%
    • Hildreth sign[3]
      • Occurence of pain following induction of ischemia by application of a tourniquet to the glomus tumor mimicking median nail dystrophy (the longitudinal splitting in the midline of the nail)
      • Highlights the vascular nature of the lesion
      • Sensitivity= 77.4% – 92%
      • Specificity= 91% – 100%
    • Cold-sensitivity test[5]
      • Application of cold water or ethanol to the affected area reproducing the symptoms
      • Sensitivity= 100%
      • Specificity= 100%
    • Transillumination test[5][6]
      • Performed in a darkened room by passing light through the finger pad
      • An opaque red image is observed in the region of the tumor that allows estimation of its size
      • Sensitivity= 23% – 38%
      • Specificity= 90%
References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kaye VM, Dehner LP (1991). “Cutaneous glomus tumor. A comparative immunohistochemical study with pseudoangiomatous intradermal melanocytic nevi”. Am J Dermatopathol. 13 (1): 2–6. PMID 1848411.
  2. Mravic M, LaChaud G, Nguyen A, Scott MA, Dry SM, James AW (2015). “Clinical and histopathological diagnosis of glomus tumor: an institutional experience of 138 cases”. Int J Surg Pathol. 23 (3): 181–8. doi:10.1177/1066896914567330. PMC 4498398. PMID 25614464.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Pater TJ, Marks RM (2004). “Glomus tumor of the hallux: case presentation and review of the literature”. Foot Ankle Int. 25 (6): 434–7. doi:10.1177/107110070402500614. PMID 15215032.
  4. Rohrich RJ, Hochstein LM, Millwee RH (1994). “Subungual glomus tumors: an algorithmic approach”. Ann Plast Surg. 33 (3): 300–4. PMID 7985967.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Kale SS, Rao VK, Bentz ML (2006). “Glomus tumor of the index finger”. J Craniofac Surg. 17 (4): 801–4. PMID 16877938.
  6. Ekin A, Ozkan M, Kabaklioglu T (1997). “Subungual glomus tumours: a different approach to diagnosis and treatment”. J Hand Surg Br. 22 (2): 228–9. PMID 9149994.

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