Benign causes include ganglion cysts and connective tissue disorders likeDupuytrens' contracture.
This may involve imaging studies like anX-rayorultrasound.
A needle or incisionalbiopsycan definitively confirm or exclude cancer as the cause.
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It also explains how hand tumors are diagnosed and treated.
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Is the Tumor Cancerous?
A tumor can be cancerous or non-cancerous.
A tumor is simply a solid mass of tissue that forms when abnormal cells group together.
The sudden appearance of any lump, bump, or lesion should be investigated as soon as possible.
Nodules, rashes, warts, and infections are very common, and they often require medical treatment.
Ganglion Cyst
Aganglion cystis the most common jot down of hand and wrist tumor.
It affects women approximately three times as often as men, and it rarely occurs in children.
Generally, a ganglion cyst is a non-painful growth on a joint of the hand or wrist.
Depending on its location, it can cause pain or limited movement in some instances.
It is usually round, without discoloration, and about 1 to 3 centimeters in size.
It may feel soft, but it is not mushy, and it cant be moved around.
A ganglion cyst is generally not tender to touch.
It may grow or shrink in size.
If it keeps growing, it may eventually interfere with your movement.
Ganglion cysts may go away on their own.
Sometimes, aspiration is used to remove the fluid inside the cyst with a needle.
In some instances, surgical removal is needed.
Ganglion cysts have a tendency to return after treatment, and surgical resection is generally longer lasting than aspiration.
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors are benign, growing on joints in the hands, arms, or legs.
They are the second most common tumors of the hand.
They are also called giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath orfibrous histiocytomaof the tendon sheath.
PVNS is also called diffuse-pop in giant cell tumor.
Dupuytrens contracture makes it difficult to move your hand and straighten your fingers.
This condition is diagnosed based on the appearance of the hand, and it tends to worsen over time.
It is more common among older men and there is an association with smoking.
In severe cases, surgical treatment may be recommended.
Epidermal Inclusion Cysts
Epidermal inclusion cystsare growths under the skin.
They are very common growths and can appear anywhere on the body, including the hands and wrists.
Epidermal inclusion cysts are usually firm, painless, and skin-colored.
They are filled with keratin, a protein that is normally present in the skin.
It can manifest as a hard bump on the back of your hand.
This is a benign growth that usually doesnt produce symptoms besides the visible bony bump.
However, it can trigger discomfort in some cases with repetitive motion or by irritating the surrounding soft tissue.
In persistent cases, surgical removal is an option if it causes severe pain or limitation of movement.
Enchondroma
A benign cartilaginous tumor called anenchondromacan appear in any bone, including your fingers.
Enchondromas can grow inside the bone.
Malignant Tumors
Malignant tumors of the hands are relatively rare.
It starts in the cartilage-producing cells of the bones and tends to grow aggressively.
Adults over 60 are most commonly affected.
Chondrosarcomas most often affects the pinkie but can develop on any finger.
The nodule itself tends to be symmetrical with smooth (rather than rough) skin.
Surgery is the most common course of treatment accompanied by chemotherapy.
Radiation may be used when surgery is not an option.
How Common Is Finger Cancer?
Chondrosarcoma is rare, affecting only one of every 200,000 people in the United States each year.
SCC starts with a precancerous lesion calledactinic keratosis(also known as solar keratosis).
SCC lesions can be treated in the early stages with freezing, electricity, lasers, orphotodynamic light therapy.
When a large lump develops, surgery with radiation is more often pursued.
The tumor appears as a painless raised area of skin, often shiny with tinyspider veinsrunning through it.
In some cases, the bump will turn into an open, oozing sore (ulcer).
Basal cell carcinoma is more common among fair-skinned people with a family history of BCC.
Surgery to remove the tumor and a surrounding margin of skin is thought to be the most effective treatment.
Around one-third of people with synovial sarcoma are diagnosed under the age of 30.
The cancer is exceptionally rare, only affecting one to two people out of a million each year.
Synovial sarcoma is often first noticed as a painless lump near a joint.
Surgery is the main treatment for synovial sarcoma followed by radiation to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Melanoma
Melanomais the most dangerous skin cancer that arises from pigment-producing skin cells calledmelanocytes.
Excessive UV light exposure is the main risk factor, particularly in light-skinned people.
Less commonly, a tumor may appear on the palm.
You may need to have an imaging examination.
If there is any concern about malignancy, you may need to have a biopsy of your tumor.
A biopsy involves a surgical sample or a needle aspiration if the tumor is fluid-filled.
Some conditions will resolve on their own, while others may require aggressive treatment.
Summary
There are benign and malignant causes of tumors of the hands, joints, and fingers.
Examples include chondrosarcoma, squamous cell sarcoma, or synovial sarcoma.
A biopsy can provide definitive evidence of cancer.
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