Unlocking the diagnostic riddle: Beyond arthritis in DIP joint deception.

Abstract

Glomus tumour is a rare benign neoplasm arising from specialized neuromyoarterial plexus situated in the subungual region. Here, we present a 36-year-old male who had severe pain in the distal part of left third finger mimicking distal interphalangeal joint arthritis (DIP). On evaluation, he was found to have severe tenderness just distal to the DIP joint line. Also, he had positive cold sensitivity test. MRI showed high-signal intensity lesion in the dorsal aspect of left third digit. Glomus tumour was suspected based on these findings. Surgical excision was done followed by histopathological examination, confirmed the diagnosis. We present this case to raise awareness about this rare condition and the possibility of misinterpreting distal pain as DIP arthritis.