by Jason Wasserman MD PhD FRCPC
August 25, 2022

What is plantar fibromatosis?

Plantar fibromatosis is a non-cancerous growth found on the flexor (sole) side of the foot. Another name for this condition is Ledderhose disease.

Is plantar fibromatosis a type of cancer?

No. Plantar fibromatosis is a non-cancerous growth.

What is the difference between plantar fibromatosis and palmar fibromatosis?

These two conditions are very similar. However, palmar fibromatosis involves the hand while plantar fibromatosis involves the foot.

What causes plantar fibromatosis?

In adults, plantar fibromatosis may be associated with diabetes, cigarette smoking, alcoholism, and repetitive trauma to the foot. However, at present, the cause of plantar fibromatosis remains unknown.

What are the symptoms of plantar fibromatosis?

For most people, plantar fibromatosis develops slowly over time with very few symptoms. Later, the disease may cause pain in the foot, especially when standing for long periods of time.

How is the diagnosis of plantar fibromatosis made?

Your doctor may suspect that you have plantar fibromatosis after talking to you and examining your feet. The diagnosis can also be made after the abnormal tissue is surgically removed and sent to a pathologist for examination under the microscope.

What does plantar fibromatosis look like under the microscope?

When examined under the microscope, plantar fibromatosis is made up of specialized cells called fibroblasts or myofibroblasts surrounded by a type of connective tissue called collagen. Most pathology reports use the term spindle cells to describe these cells because they are long and thin. The number of both fibroblasts and myofibroblasts is greater early on and decreases over time.