Glomus tumor: presentation of a case from painful nodule on ear helix




Fulin Yu-Tseng, Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Internacional La Católica, San José, Costa Rica
Rodolfo Suárez-Monge, Departamento de Patología, Hospital San Juan de Dios. San José, Costa Rica


Glomus tumors are infrequent benign vascular neoplasms that deteriorate patients’ quality-of-life due to delays between onset of symptoms and suspicion of diagnosis, histopathological confirmation, and treatment. These tumoral pathologies rarely present themselves as described in medical textbooks or in their usual locations, and frequently exhibiting atypical symptoms, signs, and anatomical sites, which can confuse the treating physician and can lead to disregarding this dermatosis. A patient with a glomus tumor of the helix in the left ear, with an evolution of more than 2 years, is described in this case.



Keywords: Glomus tumor. Left ear helix. Vascular tumor.