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Subungal glomus tumours are uncommon; the only treatment is complete surgical excision. Transungual approach is often preferred; however, secondary nail deformity may occur. Lateral periungual approach is used to avoid this complication, but this approach provides limited exposure and is used for peripheral lesion only. We describe a modified periungual approach which can be applied to central lesions. This approach can provide adequate exposure for complete excision of the subungual tumour while avoiding incision of the nail bed.

Wrist glomus tumours are extremely rare. We report a case of an unusually large wrist glomus tumour with atypical presentation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings correlated well to those previously described for digital glomus tumours. This rare differential should be considered when evaluating lesions around the wrist.

Background: Glomus tumour is a painful small tumour of the glomus body commonly located under the nail bed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation of clinical diagnosis with MRI findings, determine the prevalence of the tumour at different subungual locations and determine the differences in outcomes (if any) between a longitudinal and a transverse nail bed incision for excision of the tumour.

Methods: This retrospective study of 56 subungual glomus tumour was conducted from May 2010 to December 2021. Data with regard to gender, age at presentation, digit involved, presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms, clinical signs, need for MRI, anatomical location, surgical approach (longitudinal versus transverse), histopathology result, period of follow-up and complications were recorded.

Results: All 56 (100%) patients presented with classic triad of symptoms. The average duration of symptoms was 52.9 months (range: 3–204 months). Eleven (20%) tumours were in the sterile matrix, 38 (68%) at the junction of sterile and germinal matrix and 7 (12%) in the germinal matrix. The tumours were excised through the longitudinal incision in 31 (55.3%) patients and transverse incision in 25 (44.7%). One (1.8%) tumour was intraosseous that was diagnosed intraoperatively and excised successfully. Average follow-up was 35.4 months (range: 6–120 months). There was no difference in outcomes (pain or nail deformity) between the two incisions. One patient (1.8%) has persistent pain that was due to a missed satellite lesion in the same digit. This was excised later with resolution of symptoms. There were no recurrences and all patients were cured after excision of tumour.

Conclusions: Diagnosis of glomus tumour is usually clinical, and most are located at junction of sterile and germinal matrix. Tumour can be excised either by longitudinal or transverse nail bed incisions without any change of treatment outcome.

Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic)