Blood Tumors

There’s a good chance you’ll see Christmas lights this time of year if you drive around your neighborhood at night. Imagine the electricity that courses through a string of these lights. It travels from the outlet down through the string until it reaches a bulb where the electricity is converted to light, and energy is released. In a similar way, the blood in our bodies is pumped from the heart down through the legs until it reaches the very small vessels called “capillaries” in our toes. At this point, there is also a release of oxygen and other nutrients which serve to nourish the skin, nails, and other tissues in our toes. Sometimes, when these capillaries become damaged, a painful and irritating phenomenon known as a “granuloma” can result.
A granuloma is essentially a tumor of small blood vessels which often occurs in conjunction with an ingrown toenail but can also arise after mild trauma or from other causes. Often times, it doesn’t require an especially forceful injury because granulomas frequently arise in response to relatively mild inflammation in the area. They tend to grow quickly and have a red, pink, or fleshy color. In fact, it may simply look like an overgrowth of skin on a border of your toenail. The key, however, is that granulomas are extremely tender and bleed easily. Thus, it may also seem like an infection or an ingrown nail. Interestingly, the same type of bacteria which causes trench fever and cat scratch disease can also predispose one to developing a granuloma.
It’s definitely a good idea to consult your podiatrist if you have a condition on your foot that you’re not sure about. He or she can help to tell whether a granuloma is present and rule out other possibilities such as an infection, an ingrown nail, skin cancer, a blood blister, or various other types of tumors. The unfortunate thing with granulomas is that they do tend to recur frequently and may become infected. Thus, proper management is certainly in your best interest.
Thankfully, granulomas are rather simple to treat. After making your toe numb to eliminate any pain, the doctor will remove the tumor and then use a chemical to cauterize or close off the tiny blood vessels which will stop any further bleeding. Of course, it is important to talk to your podiatrist about your particular problem, but thankfully, effective treatment and screening are available.

Advanced Foot Care
Robert E. Kuvent, DPM
3225 S Alma School Rd
Chandler, AZ 85248
480.917.2300
http://www.yourfeetfixer.com