A Case of Gastric Glomus Tumor with Bleeing / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

A glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm arising from the neuromyoarterial glomus body, a specialized arteriovenous communication. It functions as a temperature regulator, predominantly in the skin. The glomus tumor occurs rarely in the stomach. The common presenting symptoms are upper gastrointestinal bleeding, epigastric discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. This benign tumor is seen as an intramural mass and is most frequently located in the gastric antrum. Because of its highly cellular nature, the frozen section is often misinterpreted as malignant, and an unduly extensive resection is sometimes performed. A 57-year-old woman was recently admitted due to hematemesis and melena for one day. A gastrofibroscopy was performed and a 3 4 cm sized submucosal mass with central ulceration was found on the anterior wall of the antrum. Fresh blood clots were noted on the ulcer base. Due to recurrent bleeding, a hemigastrectomy was performed. Pathologic findings, including immunoreactivity to alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, was consistent with a glomus tumor of the stomach.