Minimally invasive resection of a glomus tumor of the thoracic spine: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Objective Spinal involvement of glomus tumors is extremely rare. We herein present a case of a spinal glomus tumor and reviewed the literature to identify the most effective surgical treatment of spinal glomus tumors. Methods A 48-year-old man presented with a huge paravertebral space-occupying lesion. In this report, we present the diagnostic process and surgical procedure in this case and review the literature of glomus tumors with spine involvement. Results We suspected a primary diagnosis of neurilemmoma based on the imaging results; however, the postoperative pathologic examination confirmed a glomus tumor. Considering the size of the tumor and involvement of surrounding areas, we performed complete tumor resection and unilateral fusion with pedicle screws at the T2 to T4 level. This unilateral approach with fixation was less invasive than the standard open posterior approaches that are used when one side of the spinal canal is intact without bony destruction. Conclusions Surgical resection is a suitable treatment for most symptomatic glomus tumors. For most glomus tumors with spine involvement, total tumor resection with suitable internal fixation and fusion is recommended.

Extradural Glomus Tumor of the Thoracic Spine: Case Report and Literature Review

“…A solid glomus tumor is the most common variant (75%), followed by glomangioma (20%) and glomangiomyoma (5%) [16]. In our series, 2 of 13 cases were deemed to be glomangiomas; the other 11 were solid glomus tumors [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Insights into Spinal Glomangioma of a Unique Intradural, Extramedullary Presentation—Systematic Review

“…To date, the literature records a total of 19 documented cases of glomus tumors associated with the spinal canal, among which only eight cases are specifically classified as glomangiomas ( Table 2 ). The remaining tumors are solid glomus tumors, and there is one documented case of glomangiomyoma thus far [ 53 ]. In general, including solid glomus tumors, these lesions predominantly involve the thoracic level, followed by the lumbar spine, while cervical involvement is the least common, which is similar to the data obtained from the present systematic review on glomangiomas.…”

The Spheroid Smarting- Glomus Tumour

“…Glomus tumour emerges from modified glomus cells which are specialized smooth muscle cells functioning as chemoreceptors. Normally, glomus cells regulate vascular outflow within the capillaries on account of environmental and inherent temperature alterations [1]. Glomus tumour is cogitated as a mesenchymal neoplasm essentially comprised of modified smooth muscle cells arising from the glomus body.…”

“…Giant, intravenous glomus tumour can also ensue. Malignant glomus tumours can also be termed as glomagiosarcoma [1,2]. Pertinent to specific morphology, glomus tumour can be additionally nomenclated as glomangioma, glomangiomyoma or glomangiomatosis.…”

“…Glomangiopericytoma is a terminology employed for glomus tumour displaying a prominent, hemangiopericytic vasculature. Nevertheless, aforesaid tumours are diverse from pericytic neoplasm or sinonasal glomangiopericytoma discerned at specific sites [1,2].…”