A 38-year-old man comes to the office due to a 2-month history of an enlarging, localized swelling on the left foot. Tying his shoelaces too tight leads to localized pain and numbness in the third and fourth toes. Examination shows a firm, nontender, well-circumscribed lesion on the dorsum of the foot as shown in the exhibit. The lesion transilluminates when a penlight is applied to it. Without treatment, which of the following is most likely to occur in this patient?

Question

A 38-year-old man comes to the office due to a 2-month history of an enlarging, localized swelling on the left foot.  Tying his shoelaces too tight leads to localized pain and numbness in the third and fourth toes.  Examination shows a firm, nontender, well-circumscribed lesion on the dorsum of the foot as shown in the exhibit.  The lesion transilluminates when a penlight is applied to it.  Without treatment, which of the following is most likely to occur in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: A ganglion cyst is a connective tissue outpouching arising from tendon sheaths and joint structures.  It is typically round, firm, well-circumscribed, and transilluminates on penlight examination.  Most resolve spontaneously.

A 38-Year-Old Man Comes to the Office Due to a 2-Month