Angioleiomyoma—rare soft tissue tumor of the foot and ankle, review of two patients and review of the literature

Abstract

Angioleiomyomas are relatively rare benign soft tissue tumors which often occur in the extremities. The true etiology is largely unknown and is seldom associated with pain. They are rarely diagnosed preoperatively as the clinical and radiological examinations are often nonspecific and inconclusive. The patients may face a considerable delay before a specialist treatment is sought due to the varied presentation/missed diagnosis preoperatively. This delay highlights the need for better characterizing the diagnosis and treatment of angioleiomyomas in clinical setting to expand awareness of this pathology, the differential diagnosis of lower extremity soft tissue tumors and the need for ongoing publication of such case reports. We wish to present two patients who came in with foot and ankle swellings and heel pain. Post-excision, these swellings were histologically diagnosed as benign angioleiomyomas.