OBJECTIVES: Glomus tumors, a neoplasm arising from the glomus body, usually occur in the extremities with a particular predisposition to a subungual site. Glomus tumors are exceedingly rare in the external genitalia. In this case, the origin of a periurethral mass proved to be a glomus tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 61-year-old woman presented with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination revealed a focally ulcerating, soft periurethral mass. A subsequent wedge biopsy of a periurethral, submucosal tumor was examined microscopically using both hematoxylin and eosin stains and an extensive immunohistochemical panel. RESULTS: The initial histopathologic differential diagnosis of the wedge biopsy included several neoplasms, but final analysis, including immunohistochemistry (vimentin, desmin, and calponin positivity), concluded that the lesion was a glomus tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Periurethral masses are rare and may be caused by a large number of neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions. This case of glomus tumor presenting as a periurethral mass may be the only third reported occurrence.
OBJECTIVES:Glomus tumors, a neoplasm arising from the glomus body, usually occur in the extremities with a particular predisposition to a subungual site. Glomus tumors are exceedingly rare in the external genitalia. In this case, the origin of a periurethral mass proved to be a glomus tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 61-year-old woman presented with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination revealed a focally ulcerating, soft periurethral mass. A subsequent wedge biopsy of a periurethral, submucosal tumor was examined microscopically using both hematoxylin and eosin stains and an extensive immunohistochemical panel. RESULTS: The initial histopathologic differential diagnosis of the wedge biopsy included several neoplasms, but final analysis, including immunohistochemistry (vimentin, desmin, and calponin positivity), concluded that the lesion was a glomus tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Periurethral masses are rare and may be caused by a large number of neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions. This case of glomus tumor presenting as a periurethral mass may be the only third reported occurrence.