Our Experience in Managing Subungual Glomus Tumours

Abstract

Subungual glomus tumours are small lesions but they present with severe pain and discomfort. Due to the rarity of lesions and lack of awareness among general physicians, the patient suffers a lot before a diagnosis is made. Severe pain, cold sensitivity and localised tenderness form the classical triad of clinical presentation of glomus tumour. Patients are primarily referred to neurologists, dermatologists, orthopaedic surgeons and psychiatrists. After confirmation or a high index of suspicion plastic surgeon is called for an excision of tumour. We are presenting our experience of managing 34 lesions in 29 patients between May 2013 and April 2017. Through this descriptive study, we concluded that in addition to imaging modalities, a high degree of suspicion and meticulous examination are equally important for diagnosing this condition. We used plain radiograph, high-resolution sonography and MRI to confirm the diagnosis. In 6 digits (18.7%) of our series, all investigations missed the lesion but a glomus tumour was found on the exploration of the nail bed.