Plantar Fibroma
Finding a new lump just about anywhere in the body can be a major cause of concern. But if one appears in the arch of your foot, you can probably relax. It's likely a plantar fibroma, which is usually benign (meaning not cancerous). But the bad news is that it won't go away or get smaller on its own, so it is important to seek treatment.
Causes
A plantar fibroma is a firm, fibrous knot that appears in the arch of the foot. It might grow over time and others may develop.
You may feel pain when walking or exercising, but that is usually caused by pressure from shoes. It is simply a fibrous nodule that forms within the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue in your foot that stretches from the heel all the way across the arch to your toes.
Treatment
When you come in for an appointment, we will do a thorough examination of your foot and may use an ultrasound or order a MRI to rule out any other conditions that might be causing the lump.
Plantar fibromas are typically eliminated with conservative measures such as:
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary if the plantar fibroma is causing continued pain and the more conservative options are not doing the trick. Plantar fibromas will often recur, so it's important to get regular check-ups with a podiatrist.