Soft Tissue Masses

Soft tissue masses may affect any part of your body, including your feet or ankles. The team of skilled podiatrists at Montgomery Podiatry in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, specializes in diagnosing and treating soft tissue masses in the feet and ankles. To get help for your unusual foot mass, call the office or schedule an appointment online today. 

What are soft tissue masses?

Soft tissue masses are abnormal growths that form in your soft tissue, such as your muscles, ligaments, cartilage, nerves, blood vessels, or fat. You may call soft tissue masses lumps or bumps.

Types of soft tissue masses include:

Lipoma

A lipoma is a benign (noncancerous) soft tissue mass made up of fat cells. Lipomas vary in size and may grow anywhere on the body. 

Fibroma

A fibroma is a benign soft tissue mass that grows out of connective tissue. Plantar fibroma is a lump that affects the plantar fascia on the bottom of your foot.

Neurofibroma

Neurofibroma is a mass that grows on a peripheral nerve, causing pain, tingling, or numbness.

Ganglion cyst

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled sac that may grow in the feet, ankles, or wrist. That type of cyst is filled with the fluid secreted by your ligaments and joints.

Epidermal inclusion cyst

Epidermal inclusion cysts are benign growths filled with keratin, a protein that helps form hair, nails, and skin. These cysts may grow anywhere on the body.

Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancerous mass that affects the lower extremities. Sarcomas are rare.

When should I see a podiatrist for soft tissue masses?

You should never ignore a lump or bump. You should see the skilled podiatrists at Montgomery Podiatry if you have a lump or bump that affects your feet or ankles.

Most soft tissue masses that affect the feet and ankles are benign. The team reviews your symptoms and medical history and examines your feet and ankles and suspicious lump.

They may take a sample of your mass and send it to a pathology lab to diagnose its type. 

What are the treatments for soft tissue masses?

Treatment for soft tissue masses that affect the feet or ankle depends on your lab results and symptoms. If your lump or bump is benign and causes no symptoms or problems, the team at Montgomery Podiatry may recommend monitoring its growth.

If your benign soft tissue mass causes pain or affects your mobility, the team may prescribe medication that shrinks the mass or perform surgery to remove it. For cancerous soft tissue masses, the team removes the mass and refers you to an oncologist.

To get help for your foot or ankle soft tissue mass, call Montgomery Podiatry or schedule an appointment online today.