Diagnosis and surgical approach in treating glomus tumor distal phalanx left middle finger: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Glomus tumors are rare mesenchymal neoplasms. These tumors originate from the glomus bodies and are commonly found in the fingertips, especially in the subungual location. The cause of this tumor is unknown. Clinically, the symptoms are non-specific and often not identified on physical examination and radiologically accompanied by rare cases, making it difficult to diagnose a glomus tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: Current report present a case of pain at the tip of the middle finger of the left hand in a woman for six years and worsening in the last two years. The patient has visited several doctors with analgesic therapy, but the complaints have not improved. A bluish nail was found on physical examination, and a clinical study with the Love's pin test and the Hildreth test had positive results. Radiographic examination showed destruction with cortical thinning of the medial aspect of the distal phalanx of the left middle finger, and MRI showed a lesion with an erosion of the distal middle finger. In this case, complete surgical excision and biopsy were performed using a transungual surgical approach. The sample was sent for microscopic examination, showing a glomus tumor. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Cases with clinical symptoms of intense paroxysmal pain, exquisite point tenderness, and sensitivity to cold allow a clinical diagnosis in 90 % of cases. On clinical examinations such as Love's pin test, Hildreth's test, cold sensitivity test, and trans-illumination test with positive results and confirmed by MRI or ultrasound, the diagnosis of glomus tumor can be established. CONCLUSION: This case shows a glomus tumor in the distal phalanges of the middle finger of the left hand—diagnosis enforcement through detailed history taking and physical examination, confirmed by MRI and microscopic examination. Complete surgical excision is an effective treatment. In this case, using a transungual surgical approach based on preoperative MRI, the subungual lesion was found to provide the best exposure.