Ultrasonographic Findings of Subungual Glomus Tumors: An Analysis of 20 Cases / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Background@#Glomus tumors are benign vascular tumors derived from the glomus body, a neuromuscular vascular tissue responsible for regulating the temperature and blood flow of the skin. Ultrasonography (USG) is a useful tool for diagnosing glomus tumors; nevertheless, data on Korean patients with glomus tumors are limited. @*Objective@#This study aimed to describe USG findings of subungual glomus tumors in Korean patients. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and USG readings of 20 cases of glomus tumors in the nail apparatus diagnosed from January 2015 to December 2021. @*Results@#Twenty patients were included in this study. Four patients (20.0%) were male and 16 (80.0%) were female. The age of onset ranged from 18∼86 years, with a mean of 45.2 years. USG findings showed hypoechoic echogenicity in all cases. Tumor size ranged from 2.3∼10 mm (mean±standard deviation, 5.5±1.9 mm). The tumor shape observed on USG was oval in 16 cases (80.0%), lobulated in three cases (15.0%), and round in one case (5.0%). Tumor boundaries were well-defined in 18 cases (90.0%) and ill-defined in two cases. Posterior acoustic enhancement and cortical erosion were observed in 19 (95.0%) and 17 cases (85.0%), respectively. Increased vascularity was observed in 19 cases (95.0%). @*Conclusion@#This study revealed characteristic USG features of glomus tumors. USG is a helpful tool for the diagnosis and management of glomus tumors.