Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol 80, Issue 8 441-443, Copyright © 1990 by American Podiatric Medical Association

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Intramuscular hemangioma. Case report and literature review

J Nack and L Gustafson
College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences, Des Moines, IA.

A case was presented in which a 28-year-old male presented with tenderness and stiffness in the posterior muscle group of his right leg. The patient's symptoms had been present intermittently for nearly 23 years. Recently, the pain had progressed to the point of limiting his normal daily activities. Initial conservative therapy, which consisted of Zorprin, heel lifts, and low Dye strapping, failed to alleviate the symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to identify a mass of an unknown etiology. Following orthopedic and oncologic consultation, surgical excision was advised and performed. Pathologic examination of the mass confirmed that the tumor was an intramuscular hemangioma. Classically, with intramuscular hemangiomas, patients may have soft tissue complaints, such as pain and swelling, present for years. Patients usually defer medical attention until the primary symptom of pain occurs. When a patient complains of a painful soft tissue mass of the leg, and intramuscular hemangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis. The appropriate radiographic studies and consultations should be performed, and surgical excision should be carried out.

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