Leiomyosarcoma of the Foot

Abstract

Leiomyosarcoma is a very rare malignant tumor, with only 28 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. The prognosis varies, with average 5-year survival of 65%. Although most leiomyosarcomas occur in the lower extremity, there is a paucity in the literature on these sarcomas in the foot. Only 15 cases of leiomyosarcoma in the foot have been reported in the literature since the mid-1930s. We describe a 31-year-old man with a history of an ingrown toenail and nonhealing pyogenic granuloma. His clinical presentation suggested atypical tissue. Biopsy findings confirmed the diagnosis of spindle cell sarcoma, specifically, leiomyosarcoma. The patient was treated with amputation of the affected hallux and adjuvant therapy. The similar presentations of a pyogenic granuloma and a malignant tumor necessitate a thorough differential diagnosis with even common foot ailments. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 97(6): 475–479, 2007)