Ethanol ablation of extradigital solid glomus tumors.

Abstract

Glomus tumors are predominantly benign neoplasms accounting for less than 2% of all soft tissue tumors. While generally solitary, multiple lesions have been reported in approximately 10% of cases. Glomus tumors are typically under 1 cm in dimension accompanied by the classic triad of symptoms: debilitating pain, pinpoint tenderness, and hypersensitivity to cold temperatures. Excisional therapy is the accepted standard of care, however, past reports of non-invasive treatments for multiple glomangiomata variant tumors include laser therapy, irradiation, and sclerotherapy with STS and hypertonic saline. We present a case of a patient with multiple subcutaneous and intramuscular, lower-extremity benign solid glomus tumors treated successfully utilizing ethanol ablation, which has not been previously reported. This minimally invasive treatment allowed for control of symptoms from a benign condition previously requiring multiple invasive surgeries.