A lump on your hand or wrist is likely benign (not harmful).
A bump that feels like bone is likely acarpal boss.
A moveable wrist bump is typically aganglioncyst.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
A lump on the palm of your hand may beDupuytren’s contracture.
If you notice a hand or wrist bump, have it evaluated by your healthcare provider.
Joint fluid leaks into the pouch, filling it like a water balloon.
The result is a visible lump or bump on your hand or wrist.
Ganglion cysts are typically round or oval.
They can be soft or firm like a marble and may be moveable.
Ganglion cysts are often painless unless they compress a nerve.
When that happens, you may experience discomfort, tingling, and muscle weakness.
Ganglion cysts can also form pouches in the sheath covering a tendon or knuckle joint.
This throw in is called amucous ormyxoidcyst.
The initial cause of a ganglion cyst is unknown.
Surgical treatments are generally successful.
They tend to grow slowly and are not painful at first.
As it gets bigger, it can cause joint pain that increases with activity but decreases with rest.
Giant cell tumors can grow to become extremely painful.
They are easily removed but can grow back.
These tumors are quite rare, though, with only one in a million diagnosed each year.
They mostly affect young adults and are more common in people assigned female at birth.
The goal of treating this condition is to remove the tumor and prevent damage to the bone.
Treatment may involve:
In rare cases, amputation is needed.
But radiation treatment is also an option if your tumor can’t be removed or comes back.
Inclusion cysts develop during healing after an injury, though it may take years to become apparent.
They gradually expand over time to form cysts.
Epidermal inclusion cysts are not dangerous and do not need to be treated unless they become infected.
If the cyst becomes swollen, inflamed, tender, or enlarged it may require treatment.
This is an overgrowth of the bone on the back of the hand.
It’s similar in appearance to abone spur.
While frequently misdiagnosed as a ganglion cyst, a carpal boss is firmer.
You may not need treatment for a carpal boss if it doesn’t cause you any pain.
Dupuytren’s disease usually begins with tender nodes under the base of the ring or pinky fingers.
These may develop into a hard lump or thick band and become less tender.
Over time, this can cause one or more fingers to curl or pull sideways or toward your palm.
There is no cure for this condition.
Treatments can include:
Enchondroma
Enchondromais a noncancerous tumor that develops when cartilage grows inside a bone.
An enchondroma can become a problem if and when the tumor weakens the bone.
This increases the risk of apathologic fracture, a break in a bone that was weakened by another disease.
Enchondromas are mostly benign (not harmful) and only rarely develop into cancer.
If your tumor does not cause pain, you may not need treatment.
Your provider may recommend that you observe the tumor to ensure that it doesn’t change.
If treatment is required, surgical and non-surgical options are available.
An autoimmune form of arthritis, RA causes swelling and pain in the lining of your joints.
RA often occurs symmetrically, meaning the same joints are affected on both sides of the body.
Other common RA symptoms include:
The goal of RA treatment is to manage inflammation and reduce pain.
The most common procedures are hip and knee replacements.
Cancerous lumps are usually hard, but not all hard lumps are cancer.
Treatment for cancer of the hand will depend on the key in of cancer that you have.
There are many different types of cancer treatment.
Your healthcare provider will discuss your options with you at the time of diagnosis.
In some cases, a tissue sample may be removed for a biopsy and examined under a microscope.
Summary
Most of the time, masses in the hand and wrist are noncancerous.
One common punch in of benign growth in the hand or wrist is called a ganglion cyst.
When this occurs, it’s typically because of cancer found elsewhere in the body.
It’s important to visit your doctor if you notice a mass or growth beneath your skin.
After careful evaluation, they can determine if the growth is cancerous or nothing to worry about.
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