Enigmatic presentation of glomus tumour of the tongue: diagnostic insights.

Glomus tumour is a soft tissue neoplasm that is associated with the subungual region owing to the presence of the glomus body. A 53-year-old female patient was referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology with the chief complaint of a swelling on the tongue of 3 months' duration. An ultrasound of the tongue suggested a vascular malformation. Histopathology revealed a well-defined proliferation of cells around blood vessels, surrounded by muscle and collagen fibres. A majority of the cells were clear with distinct nuclei. Some cells had an eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. Histopathology was augmented with immunohistochemistry to arrive at a diagnosis of glomus tumour of the tongue. The oral cavity is an unusual site for the occurrence of glomus tumour. This case emphasises the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic work-up in the diagnosis of swellings in the head and neck region, particularly in the context of rare tumours arising from cells that are not native to this site.