Keywords
facial glomus tumor - magnetic resonance imaging - extradigital glomus tumor - A-V
malformation
Introduction
Glomus tumors are benign mesenchymal tumors characterized by the proliferation of
modified smooth muscles of the perivascular tissue called the glomus cells. They account
for 1 to 2% of soft tissue tumors.[1] The most common presentation is a subungual nodule with the classic triad of symptoms:
pain, localized tenderness, and cold hypersensitivity. However, extradigital glomus
tumors are uncommon, with nonspecific signs and symptoms. The facial glomus tumors
are particularly rare.[2] We report a case of a facial glomus tumor, which came as a histological surprise.
Case Report
A 50-year-old woman presented with a nodular swelling of 18-month duration involving
a small area about 2 cm inferior to the medial canthus of the right eye.
The swelling was painless at its initial presentation. However, for the past 6 months,
she noticed an increase in the size of the swelling, which was accompanied with pain
on accidental touch and on wearing spectacles. There was also associated reddish discoloration
of the swelling. There was no history of antecedent trauma or bleeding from the swelling.
On examination, she was found to have a nodular lesion of 5 mm diameter over the inferior
aspect of the medial canthus of the eye ([Fig. 1]). The nodule was tender, hyperemic, and red. Adjacent to the lesion in the nasojugal
groove, pulsatile flow was palpable.
Fig. 1 Small discolored nodule below the medial canthus.
Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a small, altered signal
intensity lesion in the subcutaneous plane overlying the right side of the nasal ridge
measuring approximately 4 mm in maximum diameter. Few serpentine signal voids were
seen in relation to the lesion. On postcontrast imaging, the lesion was seen in close
relation to the superficial vessels of the face and showed postcontrast enhancement
([Fig. 2]). The underlying right nasal bone and frontal process of the maxilla were normal
in intensity and morphology. A preoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
was also done, which showed the persistence of contrast blush in the angular branch
of the facial artery ([Fig. 3]). The findings were suggestive of arteriovenous (AV) fistula.
Fig. 2 MRI showing altered signal intensity lesion and contrast-enhanced nodule in the right
lateral nasal wall.
Fig. 3 Digital subtraction angiography: Contrast blush in the angular branch of the facial
artery around the right nasal wall with persistence of blush even after passage of
dye beyond the nasal area.
In view of the clinical and radiological findings, working diagnosis of AV fistula/vascular
malformation was made. The patient was planned for a wide local excision of the lesion
under general anesthesia under loupe magnification. An elliptical incision was marked
approximately 3 mm from the lesion in such a way that primary closure was possible
without distorting the lower eyelid in the nasal sidewall. The incision factored to
the angular branch of the facial artery for vascular control. The artery was identified
and clipped. Similarly, the draining vein on the superior aspect of the lesion was
also identified and clipped. The lesion was completely excised with clear margins.
Postoperative recovery was uneventful. At 3 months of follow-up, she remained asymptomatic
without any features of recurrence ([Fig. 4]). The histopathological diagnosis was of a glomus tumor with free margins.
Fig. 4 Postoperative status.
On immunohistochemistry, the tumor was positive for S100, calponin, and vimentin ([Fig. 5]).
Fig. 5 Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry (IHC; 10x). (A) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) section. (B) Vimentin. (C) Calponin. (D) S100. Diagnosis of benign glomus tumor was confirmed on biopsy.
Discussion
Glomus tumor is a benign vascular mesenchymal neoplasm composed of cells resembling
modified smooth muscle cells of the normal glomus body. The glomus body, a thermoregulator,
is a specialized form of AV anastomosis localized in dermal and precoccygeal soft
tissue. These tumors comprise less than 2% of all soft tissue tumors.[3]
There are two forms of glomus tumor, with the more common solitary variant accounting
for most of the cases (90%), and a rarer multiple variant accounting for 10% of cases;
this second form is seen most often in children and is thought to be inherited in
an autosomal dominant fashion.[4]
Depending on the predominant component, there are three histological variants of glomus
tumors: (1) angiomatoid (glomangioma) with predominant blood vessels, (2) solid (poor
vasculature and scant smooth muscle components), and (3) glomangiomyoma (predominantly
smooth muscle). Glomangiomyoma is the least common histological variant of glomus
tumor as described by Yang et al.[5] All these histological variants may be clinically indistinguishable. Ours was histologically
classified as solid type, which is the commonest histological variant.
Painful nodules are the most common presentation of glomus tumors, occurring mostly
in the subungual region, followed by the fingertips and feet. Extradigital glomus
tumors are uncommon with nonspecific symptoms rendering them difficult to diagnose
clinically. Amidst the various studies on extradigital glomus tumors, a retrospective
review of extradigital glomus tumors was done at the Mayo clinic between 1985 and
2005. The study included 56 patients, of whom only 2 patients had facial glomus tumor—one
on the nose and the other on the cheek.[6] Our case was difficult to diagnose preoperatively and came as a histological surprise.
The clinical preoperative misdiagnosis of a glomus tumor in the form venous lake or
epidermal cyst has also been reported by Wang et al.[7]
MRI for preoperative radiological diagnosis is the gold standard. However, MRI can
be suggestive of vascular lesions in the setting of a glomus tumor, a diagnosis that
can be confirmed only on histopathology. Thus, histopathology is imperative in all
cases undergoing excision. In our case, the MRI was suggestive of AV malformation
and hence a DSA was done. It was the histology and immunohistochemistry that clinched
our diagnosis. Hence, this case report highlights the rare nature of a facial glomus
tumor and underscores the importance considering this diagnosis as incomplete excision
can result in recurrence.
In conclusion, we reported the case of an extradigital glomus tumor arising below
the medial canthus of the right eye and abutting the right lateral nasal wall. The
lesion clinically appeared to be a vascular lesion, which was further confirmed with
MRI. However, the histopathological report came as a surprise, suggesting the excised
lesion to be a glomus tumor. Unusual tumor sites and differing clinical symptoms occasionally
interfere with diagnosing and treating patients with extradigital tumors. Therefore,
it is important to include the glomus tumor in the differential diagnosis of patients
with extradigital painful or asymptomatic lesions with color variation.
