Orbital glomus tumor in an Asian patient

BACKGROUND: This report describes a recurrent orbital glomus tumor in an Asian patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A healthy 50-year-old Korean man had progressive right exophthalmos and a soft mass on his right lower lid for 6 months. We evaluated the mass using CT and MRI, and performed excisional biopsy and pathologic examination. Pathologically, the mass was a glomus tumor. Although proptosis of the right eye decreased, one month after surgery it increased to almost the same level as before surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of an Asian patient with an orbital glomus tumor that demonstrated rapid re-growth after incision without pain or visual problems.