PET imaging of extradigital glomus tumor: a case report and literature review

Extradigital glomus tumors are uncommon and challenging to diagnose. The patient had debilitating pain, and equivocal findings on examination and other soft tissue imaging modalities, without diagnosis or effective treatment, despite consulting a broad range of medical specialties. An incidental finding on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) of a thigh lesion located at the site of 8 years of undiagnosed and treatment resistant pain led to a diagnosis of glomus tumor. The PET findings ultimately facilitated complete surgical excision and definitive cure. This case presents the utility of 18F-FDG PET as an imaging modality in patients with otherwise unexplained localized pain, to identify a lesion and lead to more timely diagnosis and treatment.