Solid glomus tumor presenting as an axillary mass: report of a case with morphologic study, including cytologic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Glomus tumors are usually small, painful, subungual nodules causing no diagnostic difficulties. Less obvious is the characterization of the solid, deep-seated variant. CASE: A 32-year-old female presented with a solid, painless tumor in the right axillary region. A fine needle aspirate was initially interpreted as ectopic breast tissue. Subsequent morphologic studies on the lumpectomy specimen revealed a solid glomus tumor.
CONCLUSION: The cytologic appearance of glomus tumors is at most suggestive. Whenever the diagnosis is considered, appropriate immunohistochemical studies should be added to consolidate it.