Intraosseous lipoma of the calcaneus mimicking plantar fascitis.

Benign lytic lesions of the calcaneus are rare and are usually asymptomatic. We report this case of a 55-year-old man with bilateral non-traumatic plantar heel pain, which was treated conservatively as plantar fasciitis. At three months follow-up, the patient had complete relief of symptoms in the left heel with partial relief of symptoms on the right side. However under the insistence of the patient an X-ray was taken, which revealed an expansile lytic lesion of the right calcaneus and a normal left heel. CT-scan revealed an expansile lytic lesion on the right calcaneus and an early lytic lesion in the left calcaneus. Following surgical intervention, the diagnosis was confirmed as intra-osseous lipoma and the patient was completely symptom free at two-year follow-up. Patients presenting with non-traumatic heel pain should be explained about the possible causes of heel pain, and should be offered X-ray at the first visit. In patients with X-ray showing unilateral lipoma of the calcaneus, CT scan should be offered to rule out involvement of the opposite side.