Case for diagnosis

Abstracts

Tumor glômico é neoplasia benigna originada de células glômicas que circundam anastomoses arteriovenosas e têm função de reguladores de temperatura. São classificados em solitários e múltiplos, adquiridos ou congênitos e histopatologicamente em tumor glômico sólido propriamente dito, glomangioma e glomangiomioma. Os glomangiomas congênitos são extremamente raros, com menos de 20 casos documentados na literatura mundial. Descreve-se caso de glomangioma congênito múltiplo em recém-nato, com regressão parcial espontânea após seis meses de acompanhamento.

Classificação; Neoplasias; Tumor glômico

WHICH IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS?

Case for diagnosis^*

Valdilene Loures de Souza^I; Juliana Cristina Silva Fraga^I; Débora Gaburri^II; Rodolfo Vieira Valverde^III; Aloísio Gamonal^V

^IResident Doctor at the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF - Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil

^IISpecialist in Dermatology at the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Santos - Santos (SP) and SBD. Master's Degree Student in Brazilian Health at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF - Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil

^IIISpecialist in Dermatology at Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro - UERJ - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and SBD. Professor de Professor of Dermopathology of the Medical Residency in the Dermatology Program at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF - Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil

^IVPhD in Dermatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP). Head of the Department of Dermatology at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF - Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil

^{Mailing Address}

ABSTRACT

Glomus tumors are benign lesions that are derived from the glomus cells surrounding arteriovenous anastomoses that serve as temperature regulators. They can be classified into solitary and multiple, acquired or congenital and, histopathologically, into 3 variants: glomus tumor proper, glomangioma and glomangiomyoma. Congenital glomangiomas are extremely rare and less than 20 cases have been documented in the world literature. We report a case of congenital multiple glomangioma present from birth with spontaneous partial regression after six months of follow-up.

Keywords: Classification; Glomus tumor; Neoplasms/congenital

HISTORY OF THE DISEASE

Seven-day-old white male patient, born in Juiz de Fora, MG, from normal full term delivery and uneventful gestation, with proper weight and height for gestational age, was seen at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic presenting two erithematous-bluish nodules, with soft consistency, measuring approximately 3 cm each, located in the proximal third of the left arm and mid third of the right thigh (Figure 1). Lesions had been present since birth, and family history was negative for similar cases.

A biopsy was performed for histopathological study (Figure 2), revealing a tumor of vascular origin, constituted by vascular lumens of various sizes, externally involved by typical glomus cells.

Treatment was expectant, and, after six months of follow-up, there was an almost complete spontaneous regression of the lesions (Figure 3).

COMMENTS

Congenital glomangioma

Glomus tumor is an uncommon benign neoplasia originating from neuromyoarterial cells (glomus cells) that surround arteriovenous anastomoses located in the deep dermis, which have the function of temperature regulators.^1,2 It more often presents as a solitary bluish nodule, even though there are multiple forms, both acquired and congenital. Histologically, three varieties are described: solid glomus tumor proper, glomangioma and glomangiomyoma, depending on the proportion of glomic cells, vascular spaces or smooth muscle cells.²

Classically, glomus tumor presents as a solitary encapsulated lesion and in only 10% of cases as multiple lesions. Solitary tumors are more frequent in young adults between the third and fourth decades of life, are bluish-red, painful and located in the extremities. Multiple presentations are usually glomangiomas and occur more commonly in men. They are generally bigger than solitary ones, are not capsulated and show a greater number of irregular vascular spaces. They may be located in any body region, either disseminated or as congenital nodules and.^2,3

Congenital glomangioma is present at birth, increases proportionally to child's growth in weight and stature and can be extremely painful. Some patients have positive family history for glomangioma, suggesting autosomal dominant inheritance.^1,3 They are extremely rare, with less than 20 well documented cases in world literature.^3,4 Malignant degeneration has not been reported, in contrast to mediastinal glomus tumors. Around 11 patients were young with less than 20 years of age.³ No gender predominance has been observed. Lesions of the plaque type were predominant over nodules, and positive family history was reported in five cases.³ One case of congenital multiple tumor showed partial spontaneous regression.⁵

Diagnosis is confirmed by histopathological examination, and described treatment ranges widely, from expectant, as adopted in the present case, to surgical excision, laser and sclerotherapy of the lesions.

REFERENCES

Received on November 03, 2005.

Approved by the Consultive Council and accepted for publication on June 19, 2006.

Conflict of interests: None

• 1. Blume-Peytavi U, Adler YD, Geillen CC, Ahmad W, Christiano A, Goerdt S, et al. Multiple familial cutaneous glomangioma: a pedigree of 4 generations and critical analysis of histologic and genetic differences of glomus tumors. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42:633-9.
• 2. Yang JS, Ko JW, Suh KS. Congenital multiple plaque-like glomangiomyoma. Am J Dermatopathol. 1999;21:454-7.
• 3. Carvalho VO, Taniguchi K, Giraldi SJ, Bertogna LP, Marinoni JN, Fillus JS, et al. Congenital plaquelike glomus tumor in a child. Pediatr Dermatol. 2001;18:223-6.
• 4. Allombert-Blaisse CJ, BatardML, Segard M, Martin de Lassalle E, Brevière GM, Piette F, et al. Type 2 segmental manifestation of congenital multiple glomangiomas. Dermatology. 2003;206:321-5.
• 5. Kato N, Masanobu K, Ohkawara A. Localized from of multiple glomus tumors: report of the first case showing partial involution. J Dermatol. 1990;17:423-8.

*

Work done at Dermatology Department of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF - Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  21 June 2007
• Date of issue
  Aug 2006

History

• Received
  03 Nov 2005
• Accepted
  19 June 2006