Soft tissue chondroma of the plantar foot in a 14-year-old boy: a case report

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022 Jan:90:106688. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106688. Epub 2021 Dec 18.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Soft tissue chondroma is a rare benign tumor with a predilection for hands and feet. The incidence is only about 1.5% of all benign tumors and this neoplasm is rarely seen in the paediatric population. In this paper we report the case of a 14-year-old boy treated for a soft tissue chondroma located next to the left foot second metatarsal.

Case presentation: A 14-year-old boy presented with a slowly growing plantar swelling of the left foot. The mass was solid, mobile, measuring 4 cm and located in soft tissues opposite of the left foot second metatarsal. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and revealed a mass measuring 37 ∗ 27 mm with regular seams, on iso-signal T1 and hyposignal T2 without any skeletal connection. A marginal excision of the mass was performed and the postoperative time was uneventful.

Clinical discussion: The clinical presentation of soft tissue chondroma is generally not specific which makes the diagnosis mostly challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most performed paraclinical examination that allows a better analysis of the lesion. A surgical excision of the tumor is the treatment of choice.

Conclusion: Soft tissue as a primary site of chondroma is a rarely reported localisation and this neoplasm should be kept in mind as a possible diagnosis face to any plantar mass in childhood.

Keywords: Case report; Child; Chondroma; SCARE; Soft tissue; Surgery.