plantar fibromatosis plantar fibromatosis plantar fascial fibromatosis, also known as ledderhose's disease, morbus ledderhose, and plantar fibromatosis, is a relatively uncommon non-malignant thickening of the feet's deep connective tissue, or fascia. in the beginning, where nodules start growing in the fascia of the foot the disease is minor. over time walking becomes painful. the disease is named after georg ledderhose, a german surgeon who described the condition for the first time in 1894. a similar disease is dupuytren's disease, which affects the hand and causes bent hand or fingers. plantar fibromatosisother namesledderhose's diseasethis condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant mannerspecialtyrheumatology as in most forms of fibromatosis, it is usually benign and its onset varies with each patient. the nodules are typically slow growing and most often found in the central and medial portions of the plantar fascia. occasionally, the nodules may lie dormant for months to years only to begin rapid and unexpected growth. options for intervention include radiation therapy, cryosurgery, treatment with collagenase clostridium histolyticum, or surgical removal only if discomfort hinders walking. signs and symptoms plantar fibromatosis is most frequently present on the medial border of the sole, near the highest point of the arch. the lump is usually painless and the only pain experienced is when the nodule rubs on the shoe or floor. the overlying skin is freely movable, and contracture of the toes does not occur in the initial stages. a plantar fibroma right below the 2nd toe. the typical appearance of plantar fibromatosis on magnetic resonance imaging (mri) is a poorly defined, infiltrative mass in the aponeurosis next to the plantar muscles. only 25% of patients show symptoms on both feet (bilateral involvement). the disease may also infiltrate the dermis or, very rarely, the flexor tendon sheath. risk factors