MRI characteristics of plantar fibromas: a large consecutive series from a tertiary care center with symptom analysis.

OBJECTIVE

A plantar fibroma (PF) is a painful benign lesion in which fibrous tissues infiltrate the plantar aponeurosis. The largest study published to date on MRI characteristics of PF includes only 16 patients. The aim was to systematically evaluate MRI characteristics of PFs from the database of our tertiary care center imaged over a decade with patient symptom analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 196 cases of MRI-confirmed PFs. Four readers assessed the lesions with respect to cords of plantar fascia, number of lesions, MRI features, largest size, and enhancement characteristics. Regional findings of local fracture deformity, muscle denervation, and plantar fasciitis were recorded. Patient symptoms were correlated using Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Chi-squared test.

RESULTS

The most common location of PF was the central cord (83%), followed by medial cord (15%) and lateral cord (1.5%) with 14% involving multiple cords. 32% of cases showed multiple lesions with 5% showing 4-5 lesions. The majority (68%) of PFs were isointense on T1W images and 43-45% lesions were hypointense on fsT2W and T2W images, respectively, with 66% of lesions being heterogeneous, 8.7% showing cystic-necrotic areas, and 64% with solid contrast enhancement. 52% had pain with 54% with diabetes mellitus. T2W and fsT2W signal alterations, enhancement characteristics, and plantar muscle denervation were significant for pain symptoms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This large systematic study adds to the body of literature on PFs, which can affect different fascial cords, can be multiple in up to 1/3 cases, and have contributory MRI features that correlate with foot pain symptoms.