Glomus Tumor

A glomus tumor is a rare benign (noncancerous) tumor. There are different types, but the most common type develops under your nails. The tumors form on glomus bodies. These are structures in your skin that control how much blood flows to your skin’s surface.

The condition typically affects women in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Glomus tumors are small — about the size of a pea. Slight pressure on your nail or exposure to cold can trigger sharp, stabbing pain.

A glomus tumor can affect your quality of life. Living with severe pain that happens without warning or an obvious cause isn’t easy. This is a rare condition, so it may take time for healthcare providers to reach a diagnosis. It can be frustrating when you can’t find out what’s going on. Fortunately, surgery to remove the tumor typically cures the condition.

Symptoms of a glomus tumor

Sharp, sudden pain under your nails is the most common symptom. The pain may feel like a jolt of electricity in your finger or like there’s a needle stuck under your nail.

The pain may happen without warning if something touches the tiny spot on your nail that covers the tumor, or if your nail is exposed to very cold water, snow or even a bitter wind. Healthcare providers may call these symptoms the triad of a glomus tumor.

Other symptoms are:

• Tiny bumps under your nail that may look red or blue
• Unusually thick or bulging nails

Glomus tumor causes

The tumors may develop if something affects certain muscle cells in the glomus bodies. Experts don’t know all the reasons why this happens. But one theory is that a genetic variation causes glomus body cells to multiply and form tumors. People with neurofibromatosis type 1 have an increased risk.

How doctors diagnose a glomus tumor

Healthcare providers check for the three symptoms that make up the glomus tumor triad. They’ll ask what the pain feels like, what you’re doing when it happens and how long it lasts. Tests they may do include:

• Love’s pin test: Your provider touches your nail with a pointed object, like a toothpick or pen, to check for a spot that hurts.
• Hildreth test: Your provider uses a blood pressure cuff to block blood flow to your fingers. They place the cuff on your upper arm and inflate it. Pain that goes away when there’s no blood flow to your fingers is a sign of a glomus tumor.
• Cold sensitivity test: They’ll dip your finger in ice-cold water to see if cold triggers pain.
• Imaging tests: They may do MRI scans, X-rays or ultrasounds to check for tumors.

How is a glomus tumor treated?

Surgery to remove the tumor under your nail typically cures the condition. Your healthcare provider will:

1. Give you medication to numb your finger or toe.
2. Remove your nail.
3. Make a cut (incision) in your nail bed to remove the tumor.
4. Close the cut with stitches.
5. Place a bandage on the exposed nail bed.

Your nail should grow back in six to eight weeks. You’ll have a follow-up appointment in three months so your provider can check on your progress. They’ll also check for signs of a new glomus tumor.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Stabbing pain in your finger or under your nail is a reason to talk to a provider. They’ll do tests to check for glomus tumors.

What can I expect if I have a glomus tumor?

Surgery to remove the tumor typically cures this condition. But research shows that the tumor may come back if surgery doesn’t remove all abnormal cells. 

Where else would I have a glomus tumor?

Very rarely, glomus tumors form on glomus cells in your heart (glomus carotid tumor). This type may affect your blood pressure and heart rate. Two other types, glomus jugulare and glomus tympanicum, affect your head and neck. They may cause symptoms like dizziness and hearing loss.