Diagnostic Dilemma of Subungual Glomus Tumor of Great Toe: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm also known as angioneuromyoma, arising from glomus bodies which are specialized structures for thermoregulation. 1 Solitary benign glomus tumors are small, usually < 1.0 cm in size and they pose a diagnostic dilemma. 2,3 They usually present with a classical triad of spontaneous pain, pressure tenderness, and cold hypersensitivity. Case description: A 37-year-old woman presented to us with complaints of pain and temperature sensitivity, in left great toe with difficulty in wearing shoes from the last 5 years. X-rays and blood investigations were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done and showed T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintensity, and subtle bone expansion with the possibility of glomus tumor. En bloc removal of the lesion was done and a histopathological report confirmed it to be a glomus tumor. The patient was asymptomatic after 3 weeks of surgery. Discussion: The purpose of this case report is to make the orthopedic surgeon aware of the possibility of glomus tumor as a differential of chronic toe pain.

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