Glomus tumor natural history
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Prognosis
The most common adverse effect is pain, which is usually associated with solitary lesions. Multiple tumors are less likely to be painful. In one report, a patient with more than 400 glomus tumors had thrombocytopenia as a result of platelet sequestration (ie, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome). Malignant glomus tumors, or glomangiosarcomas, are extremely rare and usually represent a locally infiltrative malignancy. However, metastases do occur and are usually fatal.
Patients who have surgery or radiation tend to do well.
Complications
The most common complications are due to nerve damage, which may be caused by the tumor itself or damage during surgery. Nerve damage can lead to:
- Change in voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hearing loss
- Paralysis of the face