Abstract
Foot foreign body granulomas can mimic malignancies, especially when the history and
unusual location pose a diagnostic dilemma. We report the case of a 33-year-old male
with delayed-onset progressive swelling over the foot dorsum after a sharp injury
through the plantar aspect of the foot. The unusual presentation and radiolucency
warranted further radiologic evaluation, which revealed a benign foot swelling. An
excision biopsy and histopathologic examination revealed a rubber body granuloma.
No recurrence of the granuloma was noted during the 11-month follow-up period after
removal of the offending agent. The nature of the injury, immunologic response to
the rubber fragment, and lack of infection led to the delayed presentation at an unusual
site, mimicking malignancy. Rubber body granuloma has rarely been reported in published
studies. A high index of suspicion of retained radiolucent fragments and astute radiologic
evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging are required for management of sharp injuries
occurring through footwear. We reviewed the approach for evaluating such cases of
foot swelling that can mimic malignancies.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 08, 2017
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved.
