Comparison of Subungual Glomus Tumours in Terms of Nail Aesthetics and Recurrence According to Size and Location in the Germinal or Sterile Matrix

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effect of subungual glomus tumour size and localization in the germinal or sterile matrix on tumour recurrence and aesthetic outcomes.

Patients and Methods From 35 patients who underwent surgery for a subungual glomus tumour between February 2013 and February 2020, 26 patients – 17 women and 9 men – with 27 subungual glomus tumours fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The average age was 37.3 (22–58) years. According to the patients’ surgical notes and preoperative magnetic resonance images 14 tumours were located in the sterile, 13 in the germinal matrix, and the mean size of the glomus tumours located in the germinal matrix was 4.9±1.7 mm, in the sterile matrix 3.6±1.0 mm. At the postoperative 12th month follow-up visit nail aesthetic was evaluated objectively according to Zook’s fingernail appearance scoring. In addition, patients were asked to evaluate the pain and nail appearance in the involved finger by VAS (Visual Analog Scale 0–10). Patients who experienced recurrence were noted.

Results No significant Zook’s fingernail appearance score differences were observed between germinal and sterile matrix groups (p=0.097). Comparison of VAS score for pain and VAS score for nail appearance between the two groups also yielded similar values (p=0.449 and 0.395, respectively). The recurrence rate was similar at both locations (p=0.557) with 3 recurrences in the germinal, and 2 in the sterile matrix group. There was no relation between tumour size, Zook’s fingernail appearance score (p=0.874) and recurrence (p=0.784). The observed germinal matrix glomus tumours were significantly larger than the sterile matrix tumours (p=0.031).

Conclusion Neither subungual glomus tumour size nor localization in the germinal or sterile matrices has different effects on nail appearance and recurrence.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Diese retrospektive Studie untersucht, ob die Größe und Lokalisation subungualer Glomustumoren in der germinalen oder sterilen Matrix Einfluss auf das postoperative Erscheinungsbild der Fingernägel und die Rezidivrate haben.

Patienten und Methoden Von 35 Patienten, bei denen zwischen Februar 2013 und Februar 2020 ein subungualer Glomustumor entfernt wurde, erfüllten 26–17 Frauen und 9 Männer – mit 27 subungualen Glomustumoren die Einschlusskriterien. Das Durchschnittsalter betrug 37,3 (22–58) Jahre. Die Auswertung der Patientenakten und der präoperativen Kernspinuntersuchungen ergab, dass 14 Tumoren in der sterilen und 13 in der germinalen Matrix lokalisiert waren sowie dass die durchschnittliche Größe der Glomustumoren der germinalen Matrix 4,9±1,7 mm und die der sterilen Matrix 3,6±1,0 mm betrug. Bei der Nachuntersuchung nach 12 Monaten wurde das Erscheinungsbild und die Qualität des Fingernagels der betroffenen Finger objektiv mittels des Fingernail Appearance Score von Zook beurteilt. Zusätzlich bewerteten die Patienten das Erscheinungsbild des Fingernagels als auch vorhandene Schmerzen mittels der visuellen Analogskala (VAS 0–10). Weiterhin wurde die Rezidivrate erfasst.

Ergebnisse Zooks Fingernail Appearance Score ergab keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen Glomustumoren der germinalen und sterilen Matrix (p=0,097). Auch bzgl. vorhandener Schmerzen und der subjektiven Beurteilung des Erscheinungsbildes der Fingernägel durch die Patienten anhand der VAS ergaben sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Gruppen (p=0,449 und 0,395). Ebenso ergab sich bzgl. der Rezidivrate kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Gruppen (p=0,557) bei 3 Rezidiven nach Tumoren der germinalen und 2 der sterilen Matrix. Die Tumorgröße hatte weder auf Zooks Fingernail Appearance Score (p=0,874) noch auf die Rezidivrate (p=0,784) Einfluss. Glomustumoren der germinalen waren signifikant größer als Glomustumoren der sterilen Matrix (p=0,031).

Schlussfolgerung Weder die Größe subungualer Glomustumoren noch deren Lokalisation in der germinalen oder sterilen Matrix haben Einfluss auf das postoperative Erscheinungsbild und die Qualität des Fingernagels und die Rezidivrate.

Keywords

Subungual glomus tumour - germinal matrix - sterile matrix - recurrence rate - fingernail appearance

Schlüsselwörter

Subungualer Glomustumor - germinale Matrix - sterile Matrix - Rezidivrate - Aussehen des Fingernagels

Publication History

Received: 24 October 2021

Accepted: 28 January 2022

Article published online:
07 September 2022

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