Soft Tissue Masses & Tumors
Different types of Foot Tumors
The sight of a lump on your foot can be alarming. But it might be reassuring to know that only one in a thousand cases of soft tissue masses or tumors of the foot are actually malignant. Nevertheless, these are conditions that should be promptly examined by a podiatrist.
There are many kinds of lumps and bumps that can occur on the foot, including:
- Ganglion cysts, which are firm, rubbery masses that appear on the top of the foot. These fluid-filled cysts occur when there is a weak spot in the tissue of a joint or tendon. They grow and shrink and often appear without warning.
- Giant cell tumors, which are noncancerous growths of the tendon sheath. They mostly appear on toes, soles, and the tops of feet and can not only be painful, but also interfere with tendons in the feet.
- Mucous- cysts are small masses caused by a weakening joint capsule. They are often swollen and feel rubbery, appearing on the toe behind the toenail joint.
- Plantar fibromas are benign, fibrous lumps that develop on your plantar fascia, the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. Because of where they grow, walking may be painful.
Treatment Options for Soft Tissue Masses and Tumors
In some cases, an MRI will be ordered before rendering a diagnosis. If your foot cyst or tumor is not cancerous and doesn’t cause you pain, there is no need to treat it. If it does cause discomfort, there are various treatment options for soft tissue masses and tumors. If it is a fluid-filled mass, a podiatrist may drain it, use an injectable steroid to shrink it, or surgically remove it and have it examined (biopsy).
Don’t ignore a painful lump on your foot. Visit one of the podiatrists at Cincinnati Foot & Ankle Care for an evaluation. We have multiple locations to serve you, so you’re sure to find one close to your home or office. Call us at the location nearest you to arrange a consultation or you can request an appointment online.
