Soft-Tissue Chondroma in the Right Hallux: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pathology

Background:

• Soft-tissue chondroma is a rare, benign tumor typically affecting the hands and feet.
• Digital presentations, particularly in the toes, are exceptionally uncommon.

Observation:

• A 67-year-old male presented with a 5-year history of a painful nodule on his right hallux.
• Physical examination revealed a 7 mm, round, solid, movable nodule.
• Radiographs demonstrated faint linear calcifications within the nodule.

Findings:

• Surgical excision of the nodule was performed.
• Pathologic examination confirmed the mass as a chondroma, characterized by mature chondrocytes in a cartilaginous matrix.
• The tumor was benign.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering soft-tissue chondroma in the differential diagnosis of digital nodules.
• Accurate differentiation from other soft-tissue tumors, including malignant ones like chondrosarcoma, is crucial.
• Complete surgical excision is the recommended treatment for symptomatic or diagnostically uncertain cases.