Disease directory
Glomus tumor / Glomangioma
Published: September 18, 2026Updated: September 18, 2026
Important: Informational content intended for healthcare professionals. It does not replace clinical evaluation or establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Overview
- Definition and synonyms
- Glomus tumor
A benign perivascular neoplasm originating from modified smooth muscle cells of the neuromyoarterial glomus body (Sucquet-Hoyer body) , an arteriovenous structure specialized in digital thermoregulation. It is typically located in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue of the fingers, especially in the subungual region. (Samaniego 2009 , Hazani 2008 , Smith 2019) - Glomangioma / glomuvenous malformation (GVM)
Today it is considered a congenital venous malformation with proliferation of ectatic veins whose vessels are surrounded by glomus-like cells, generally multiple, congenital or of early onset , inherited in an autosomal dominant manner due to GLMN (glomulin) mutations. Boon 2004 , Brouillard 2002 - In the classic pathology of glomus tumors, three histological subtypes are described:
- Solid glomus tumor
- Glomangioma (glomus tumor with a prominent vascular component)
- Glomangiomyoma (with a greater smooth muscle component) Samaniego 2009 , Smith 2019
- Common synonyms
- Subungual glomus tumor
- Digital glomus tumor
- Glomangioma / glomovenous malformation
- “Blue painful nodule” (glomangioma in vascular dermatology)
- Glomus tumor
- History
- Clinically described by Wood in 1812 and named “glomus tumor” by Masson in 1924. Samaniego 2009
- Epidemiology
- Classical glomus tumor:
- It represents ~1–5% of hand tumors ; of these, 25–75% are subungual . Samaniego 2009 , Hazani 2008
- 75–80% are located in the upper extremity, especially the subungual region of the fingers. Samaniego 2009
- Typical age: young and middle-aged adults (20–50 years) , but described at all ages, including children. Hazani 2008 , Singal 2022
- Slight predominance in females for subungual forms; extradigital forms are somewhat more frequent in males. Samaniego 2009 , Chou 2016
- Glomangioma / GVM:
- <10% of cutaneous glomus lesions. Samaniego 2009 , Boon 2004
- Typical onset in childhood or adolescence, with a strong familial tendency (AD) and variable penetrance. Brouillard 2002 , Brouillard 2005 , Brouillard 2013
- Classical glomus tumor:
- ICD codes
- Cutaneous glomus tumor (benign)
- ICD-10-CM
- D18.0 Hemangioma, any site
- D18.01 Hemangioma of skin and subcutaneous tissue → most logical code for cutaneous/subungual glomus tumor
- ICD-11
- 2F2Y – “Other specified benign soft tissue tumour” (category where benign glomus tumour is located in dermatological practice).
- ICD-10-CM
- Glomangioma / glomovenous malformation (GVM)
- ICD-10
- It is usually coded as D18.0 Hemangioma, any site, or Q27.8 “Other congenital malformations of the peripheral vascular system” depending on the local approach.
- ICD-11
- LC51 – “Developmental venous malformations involving the skin”, official synonym includes glomuvenous malformation .
- ICD-10
- Diagnostic checklist (quick)
- Minimal clinic
- Intense localized pain in the finger (especially under the fingernail)
- Sensitivity to cold or exacerbation of pain with low temperatures
- Point of maximum pain, well-defined (+ Love test)
- ± Nail changes (reddish/blue macule, groove, hypercurvature)
- Further investigation recommended
- Love test, Hildreth sign, cold test
- Onychoscopy / nail dermatoscopy
- Transillumination (if available)
- Image (depending on the case)
- MRI or ultrasound:
- If location is doubtful, if the injury has been previously operated on, or if there is a recurrence
- If a deep or extradigital tumor is suspected
- MRI or ultrasound:
- Biopsy
- Typical subungual glomus tumor: complete excision (excisional biopsy) including dermis and subcutaneous cellular tissue
- GVM/multiple lesions: incisional biopsy of a representative area
- Laboratory/genetics
- GVM or familial glomangiomas: consider GLMN genetic testing and genetic counseling
- Minimal clinic
Doctors who treat Glomus tumor / Glomangioma
Directory specialists related to Glomus tumor / Glomangioma.
There are no specialists associated with this record yet
You can browse the full directory and filter by the condition you're interested in.
Go to directory