The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for local control of glomangiomatosis: a case report

Abstract

The vast majority of glomangiomas are small, benign neoplasms that can occur anywhere in the body but typically arise in the subcutaneous tissues of the extremities and are capable of causing extreme pain. Typically, these lesions are managed surgically with excellent rates of tumor control. On occasion, patients present with a variant of the glomangioma tumor consisting of numerous or recurrent nodules, a condition classified as glomangiomatosis. The authors present a case report of a young patient with multiply recurrent painful glomangiomas of the left foot, who was ultimately diagnosed with glomangiomatosis pedis. After multiple surgeries and surgical consultations, no surgery other than amputation was recommended. Therefore, the patient sought consultation with regard to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). In the absence of other options, and based on its effectiveness in treating glomus tumors of the head and neck which display similar natural history and histologic features, SBRT was offered. The patient underwent SBRT to the largest of his remaining tumors with excellent local control and significant reduction in pain at two and a half years follow-up.

Malignant glomus tumors of the head and neck in children and adults: Evaluation and management

“…However, in reported cases, tumor progression was not reliably altered by use of radiotherapy . One study described 30 Gy via CyberKnife to glomangiomatosis of the foot that had already been treated with six surgical excisions . This temporarily reduced size and pain; however, at the time of publication, a new nodule was palpable.…”

“…20,21,23 One study described 30 Gy via CyberKnife to glomangiomatosis of the foot that had already been treated with six surgical excisions. 36 This temporarily reduced size and pain; however, at the time of publication, a new nodule was palpable. Radiotherapy may provide temporary local control, but its impact on malignant disease has not been formally evaluated.…”

Glomangiomatosis of the lower leg

“…They are a subtype of atypical glomus tumor as it falls outside the normal clinical and/or histologic spectrum of typical glomus tumors. It has an estimated incidence if 2 in 1,000,000 and accounts for 2%-3% of glomus tumors in adults [ [3] , [4] , [5] ]. Both typical glomus tumors and glomangiomas are painful and typically occur in the extremities [ 5 , 6 ].…”

“…It has an estimated incidence if 2 in 1,000,000 and accounts for 2%-3% of glomus tumors in adults [ [3] , [4] , [5] ]. Both typical glomus tumors and glomangiomas are painful and typically occur in the extremities [ 5 , 6 ]. Typical glomus tumors are most commonly subungual and single.…”

Glomus tumor of uncertain malignant potential within the cervical spine: a case report

“…O n l y a f e w p r e v i o u s a r t i c l e s h a v e m e n t i o n e d radiotherapy of GT. Radiotherapy of primary or metastatic GTs in the head and neck can temporarily reduce tumor volume and alleviate pain symptoms, but the control of tumor progression is unreliable (10,17). Due to the positive surgical margin of the patient, it was considered that there were still soft tissue lesion residues after resection, so we chose to perform postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.…”