A recent study found a number of differences between subungual glomus tumors and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) using ultrasonography. The results were published in Skin Research & Technology.
Over a 2-year period, the authors evaluated histologically confirmed cases of subungual glomus tumors and SCC by presurgical assessment with ultrasound. Each tumor’s sonographic features were reviewed and classified. During the study, seven glomus tumors and six SCCs of the nail were collected.
Upon evaluation, the authors found that each tumor type was easily distinguishable by ultrasonography. In particular, subungual glomus tumors were positively associated with an ovoid shape with well-defined borders; these tumors also were notable for bone cup-scalloping without cortical erosion and a rich intralesional vascular pattern (P<.05). SCC, however, were more likely to have an irregular shape with ill-circumscribed margins. In addition, SCC significantly correlated with infiltrative growth pattern with peripheral hypoechoic foci, posterior acoustic shadow, cortical erosion, and highly vascular multipolar peripheral pattern (P<.05), said the authors.
They concluded that rapid assessment of nail tumors to differentiate between glomus tumors and SCC may contribute to a reduction in diagnostic delay, decrease the risk of surgical relapse, and quicker management of the diagnosis.
Reference
Sech A, Alessandrini A, Patrizi A, et al. Ultrasound features of the subungual glomus tumor and squamous cell carcinomas. Skin Res Tech. 2020;26(6);867-875. doi:10.1111/srt.12888
