GIANT INTRAVENOUS GLOMUS TUMOR

We report a painful intravenous glomus tumor located in the right fore arm of a 79-year-old woman. The tumor originated from the wall of a ve in, protruded into its lumen and was completely excised. The largest d imension of the tumor occluding the vein was 14 cm. Tumor cells were c haracterized immunohistochemically by the presence of vimentin, alpha- smooth-muscle actin, and collagen IV. Intravascular spread of the glom us tumor is rare and has been described in the stomach and subcutaneou s tissue. An entirely intravenous glomus tumor has been reported only three times. However, a huge intravenous growth as in our case appears never to have been reported. A review of the intravascular cases show ed that the average age of presentation is 61.5 years (range 40-79 yea rs) and the most frequent location is the forearm. Despite this intrav ascular growth, there is no evidence of aggressive clinical behavior, recurrence or metastasis. The pathologist must be aware of this varian t of glomus tumor to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary additional tre atments. (C) Munksgaard 1997.