RESUMO
PURPOSE: To document post-excision recurrence rates for epidermal cysts of the foot and ankle by location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed epidermal cysts confirmed histologically by excisional biopsy in 37 patients (male 20, female 17) from 2004 to 2011. Cyst locations and sizes were analyzed and preoperative and postoperative pain levels were compared using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Rates of recurrence and patient satisfaction levels were also measured. RESULTS: Epidermal cysts occurred most commonly on the 1st toe (15 cases, 40.6%), followed by the ankle (7 cases, 18.9%), 2nd toe (6 cases, 16.2%), 3rd toe (4 cases, 10.8%), 4th toe (1 case, 2.7%), 5th toe (2 cases, 5.4%), and heel (2 cases, 5.4%). Average cyst size in 35 cases was 15.5x15.0x7.9 mm. VAS reduced from 6.5 preoperatively to 1.0 postoperatively. Cysts recurred in 7 cases (18.9%); on the 1st toe in 5 and on the 2nd toe in 2. Thirty patients (81.0%) were very satisfied with treatment results, 2 patients (5.4%) were satisfied, and 5 (13.5%) were not satisfied. Recurrence occurred in 4 cases, and in one of these cases the cyst recurred after second excision. CONCLUSION: The excision of epidermal cysts in the foot and ankle area was found to have an 18.9% recurrence rate. To achieve good results, the precise location of cysts should be determined by imaging study before excision, and cysts must be excised completely.