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Abstract

Evaluating and treating soft tissue masses is a component of podiatric practice that few will be able to avoid. Indeed, of all soft tissue masses, ganglion cysts appear to be the most common. Many of these can be adequately treated with fine-needle aspiration. However, in other cases, surgical excision may be indicated, particularly when the cyst is pressing against a nerve or similarly sensitive structure. In this case report we seek to analyze one case of a painful soft tissue mass that was originally diagnosed as a ganglion cyst, had failed fine-needle aspiration, and was analyzed under MRI to be a case of "tenosynovitis." The goal is to understand that, all similarities aside, no two soft tissue masses are completely identical, and that it is important to obtain the correct diagnosis early in treatment, to render the appropriate care so that the symptoms do not become debilitating or impact the patient's activities of daily living.