Skin & Soft Tissue Infection

Ganglion Cysts
A ganglion is a soft tissue mass that most commonly occurs on the wrist in women between 25 and 45 years of age. They are also seen commonly on the foot. A ganglion is a firm, rubbery mass that occurs on the top of the foot. On the foot, the most common area of involvement is in front of the ankle or on the outside of the ankle. A common characteristic of a ganglion is that it will enlarge and then shrink is size. They generally occur without any apparent cause. On occasion, they will compress a nearby skin nerve and cause tingling into the top of the toes. Tapping on the ganglion will often result in this same tingling sensation into the toes. 

Giant Cell Tumor
These masses are generally found on the toes, top of the foot, or sides of the foot. They are always closely associated with a tendon sheath. They can also occur deep inside the foot. They slowly enlarge but never grow any larger than 4 cm in size. They are firm irregular masses that are commonly painful. As the tendon grows it can press so firmly on the bone it lays next to, that it can cause erosion of the bone. Cancerous tumors can have the characteristic of invading bone through aggressive and destructive means. The erosion of the bone associated with giant cell tumors is due to pressure on the bone and not due to the invasion of the bone by the tumor. 

Muco-Cutaneous Cyst
These occur most frequently at the joint just behind the toenail. These are caused by a weakening of the joint capsule, which allows a swelling to occur. They are firm and rubbery to the touch. Sometimes as the skin thins due to the stretching pressure of the mass, it will appear translucent. When the mass is broken or punctured, a thick clear fluid will leak out.

Plantar Fibromatosis
Firm, nodular masses may form within the arch of the foot. These may occur as a single mass or in clusters. They are called plantar fibromas and are a non-cancerous tumor that forms within a ligament in the arch of the foot called the plantar fascia. Frequently, they will slowly enlarge causing pain while walking.