Dr. Ebraheim's animated educational video describing ganglion cysts of the foot.
Ganglion cysts are a mass or a lump that forms below the surface of the skin. It is a benign cyst that is filled with a jelly-like fluid. Ganglion means a “knot”. It is not a malignant tumor, it is just a soft tissue benign mass.
Ganglion cysts can occur anywhere. They usually occur at the wrist area, however ganglion cysts may occur at the foot 9usually on the top of the foot). This mass can change in size, it can vary in size, and also may grow slowly.
Presentation:
The patient notices a mass usually on the top of the foot. The mass is usually asymptomatic. The patient may have burning sensation due to nerve irritation or compression of the nerve.
Sometimes a ganglion cyst mass occurs in the tarsal tunnel area, causing tarsal tunnel syndrome. In this case, if the pain and burning sensation is not resolved with conservative treatment, excision of the mass is probably a good thing. The patient may have skin irritation and also have difficulty walking and wearing shoes.
If the ganglion is pushing on a nerve and causing irritation, something surgical needs to be done, such as aspiration or removal. Usually the patient’s symptoms become better after these treatments.
You need to differentiate ganglion cyst of the foot from plantar fibromatosis. Plantar fibromatosis occurs at the bottom of the foot. Ganglion cyst will transilluminate. Plantar fibromatosis does not transilluminate.
Treatment:
•Observation
•Shoe modification
•Aspiration/injection of steroids
•Surgery is the last resort
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