Nasal glomus tumors: Report of two cases with emphasis on immunohistochemical features and differential diagnosis

Abstract

We describe 2 cases of nasal glomus tumor that presented as nasal polyps. Grossly, each of the polypectomy specimens consisted of small fragments of polypoid soft tissue with glistening mucosa. Histopathological examination of each of the specimens showed sheets and nests of monomorphic round cells intimately associated with capillary-sized blood vessels. The tumor cells were strongly cytoplasmic positive for vimentin, smooth-muscle specific actin, muscle-specific actin, and CD34. Collagen IV showed pericellular positivity. Nasal glomus tumors are extremely rare and represent less than 0.5% of nasal nonepithelial tumors. Nasal polyps are common surgical pathological specimens, with the majority of nasal polyps being inflammatory polyps or a respiratory epithelial proliferation. Histologically, many nasal polyps show vascular proliferation with an inflammatory cell infiltrate, which may be confused with the rare glomus tumor. In addition, other nasal vascular tumors, in particular nasal hemangiopericytoma and neural tumors, may histologically mimic nasal glomus tumors.

Publication Title

Human Pathology

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS