Presentation and Management Outcome of Glomus Tumors of the Hand

Background: To document the clinical presentation of glomus tumors of the hand and evaluate the outcome ofcomplete surgical excision in terms of relief of symptoms, any postoperative nail deformities and tumor recurrence overa period of one year.Methods: This descriptive case series spanned over a period of twelve years. All patients of either gender and all ageswho had histologically confirmed glomus tumors of the hands were included. All of them underwent surgical excisionunder local anesthesia.Results: Out of ۱۷ patients, majority (n=۱۲; ۷۰.۵۸%) were females. The mean age was ۴۱.۱۷±۱۳.۷ years. Thedominant hand was involved in ۱۱ (۶۴.۷۰%) patients. There were ۱۴ patients (۸۲.۳۵%) with subungual tumors whereas۳(۱۷.۶۴%) had volar pulp glomus tumors. The mean diagnostic delay was ۱۸.۸۸±۹.۳ months. The tumor size rangedfrom ۲ mm to ۱.۱cm with a mean of ۴.۰۵±۴.۳mm. All the patients (n=۱۷,۱۰۰%) experienced complete symptomaticrelief within ۲-۴ weeks after surgical excision. There were no postoperative nail deformities. There was no recurrenceover a period of one year.Conclusion: Glomus tumors of the hands were more frequently found among women in their fourth and fifth decades.Dominant hand, index finger and distal phalanx represented the commonest affected anatomic locales. Majority of thetumors were subungual. Majority of the patients suffered over ۱۲ months in distressful pain before being diagnosed.Complete surgical excision under local anesthesia provided rapid relief of the symptoms. Creation of awareness aboutthe tumor among doctors as well as public would help to ensure early presentation to plastic surgeon, prompt diagnosisand hence avoidance of the prolonged periods of agonizing misery.Level of evidence: III