Osteoma cutis in the distal digit of the foot

Abstract

Osteoma cutis is a condition caused by bony growth within the skin or soft tissue of an individual. Most commonly seen after trauma or injury causing an inflammatory process leading to ossification within the tissue. However, osteoma cutis can also occur spontaneously with no past incident. The formation of bone is benign in nature and poses no malignant or cancerous threat to the patient. This condition is rarely found in the foot. In this case study we present a patient who was seen our clinic in 2018 with pain associated with a blister on her left second digit secondary to a five kilometer walk. The blister failed to heal and became a symptomatic palpable mass. Surgical excision of the mass was performed and pathological identification of an osteoma cutis was made. This case report serves to demonstrate the progression of an osteoma cutis as well as highlight the uncommon nature of this type of bone growth within the distal tuft of digits.

Keywords

• Benign ossification
• Digital bone growth
• Heterotropic bone growth
• Skin nodules
• Soft tissue calcification