Utilization of triple phase nuclear medicine bone scan for diagnosis of extradigital glomus tumors

Abstract

Introduction: Presentations of glomus tumors in atypical areas have been documented and often lack the classic symptoms typically associated with glomus tumors. Diagnosis of extradigital glomus tumors is difficult and often comes after years of misdiagnosis. Case Report: We present the case of an 82-year-old male with an extradigital glomus tumor at the tip of the olecranon. Gold standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was negative and 3-phase nuclear medicine scan identified uptake near the olecranon process. Glomus tumor diagnosis was confirmed after pathology results. At two weeks post-op, the patient reported complete resolution of the pain. At the final follow-up, the patient had returned to all functional activities without pain and his strength was symmetric to the contralateral side. Conclusion: This case demonstrates the importance of clinical suspicion in the workup and diagnosis of an atypical extradigital glomus tumor and how nuclear medicine scans can provide additional information in the presence of negative MRI.