Standard and high resolution magnetic resonance imaging of glomus tumors of toes and fingertips.

BACKGROUND

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of subungual glomus tumors has been recently reported.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to compare high-resolution MRI and standard MRI for the diagnosis of 44 glomus tumors of the toes and fingertips.

METHODS

Glomus tumors (11 cases) were first examined by MRI with a commercial surface coil (set 1). Thirty-three other glomus tumors and one tumor from set 1 were then examined with a high-resolution module designed for skin imaging (set 2).

RESULTS

All 44 glomus tumors were identified with MRI. The limits of the tumors were detected in 54% of set 1 and 100% of set 2. A capsule was present in most cases, but was incomplete or absent in eight cases. Subtypes of glomus tumors were more easily differentiated in set 2.

CONCLUSION

Standard MRI was adequate to detect glomus tumors, but high-resolution MRI assessed tumor characteristics more accurately.