Esophageal glomus tumor:report of a case and review of literature

MA Deng-yun; ZHAN Min-yun; LU Jin-hai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8096.2025.05.025

Abstract：Objective: To discuss the clinical pathological features, immunohistochemical results, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of esophageal glomus tumor. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a case of primary esophageal glomus tumor was conducted, including clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics, morphological changes, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognosis, and related literature was reviewed. Results: The patient was a 35-year-old female who presented with discomfort in the pharynx and dysphagia for one month, which worsened over half a month. She experienced coughing and sputum production after eating hard food, which was difficult to expectorate, accompanied by choking while drinking water and difficulty in swallowing. CT diagnosis: thickening of the upper esophageal wall with surrounding soft tissue density shadow. Endoscopic diagnosis: elevated lesion on the mucosa of the upper esophagus. Pathological examination: tumor cells were tightly arranged as small round, oval, or polygonal epithelioid cells around blood vessels, with faintly stained cytoplasm and slightly eosinophilic. Immunohistochemistry showed negative expression of SMA and SYN. Partial esophagectomy was performed, and the patient was followed up for 3 years without recurrence. Conclusion: Glomus tumor is a benign perivascular tumor composed of glomus cells. Esophageal occurrence is rare. Clinical symptoms are non-specific. Pathological morphology and immunohistochemistry are essential for final diagnosis. It is necessary for clinicians and pathologists to be aware of this disease to avoid misdiagnosis.