Foot Facts: Cysts from a Varicose Vein
June 2001
Cysts found in the human foot are fairly common. Most of them are benign (non-cancerous) and can be left alone. The reasons for surgical removal can be if they cause pain, interfere with an important structure like a nerve, become infected, or make the wearing of shoe gear a problem. Some cysts, like lipomas (made of fatty tissue) can undergo a transformation to something malignant (cancerous) and this may be a justification for removing it as a "preventative" measure. This type of transformation is statistically low and often not much cause for concern.
A varicose vein is a vein that becomes enlarged and tortuous. Sometimes, particularly following some type of trauma (injury), a thrombus (blood clot) can form inside the vessel. The blood clot organizes after some time and forms a cyst-like structure. This structure is visible as a small raised area on the skin, is palpable and can be moved freely by the examiner. The cyst can cause pain to the patient. If removed, it appears dark, grayish purple and well-encapsulated (has an "envelope" or tissue around it). There are characteristics that, to the trained eye, make it obvious that it formed from a blood vessel. The authors have seen and removed in the last couple of years several of these cysts that caused discomfort to the patients.
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