You may never have thought your hands could be home to anything but knuckle-cracking, silver-lining thinking, and constant self-manicure maintenance. But there is so much more to these delicate digits than meets the eye. Hands are among the most sensitive appendages on our body, which is why they can also be susceptible to a wide array of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including tumors.
Yes, tumor! Tumors are typically associated with the breast, brain, lung, etc.; however, though not very common, you can get a tumor in your hand as well. It is easy to dismiss a lump in your hand as a rash, pimple, orswelling caused by a forgotten injury. But it can be much more than that. The lump can be the first sign of something more serious going on in your body.
If you have noticed a persistent swelling or lump in your hand or wrist, please visit Dr. Leena Jain, a well-known plastic surgeon in Borivali, Mumbai to rule out a hand tumor.
What is a hand tumor?
A tumor is any abnormal bulge or lump in your hand or wrist. The word "tumor" does not always imply that it is malignant or cancerous. In actuality, most hand and wrist tumors are benign (non-cancerous). Moles, warts, and other skin growths, as well as soft tissue beneath the skin and even in the bone, can all develop into tumors. In addition, the hand has a wide variety of tissues, including skin, tendons, ligaments, fat, blood vessels, nerves, bone, and more. As a result, your hand can develop a wide variety of tumors.
Hand cancers are uncommon but not impossible. If you are dealing with a growth on your hand, it is essential to know if it is a tumor, what type of tumor it is, and whether or not it needs intervention.
Who does hand tumor surgery
Its best done by a hand surgeon as there are numerous nerves and blood vesels in the hand and all of them have to be protected, preserved or reconstructed when involved.
What are the common types of hand tumors?
The following are some common types of hand tumors:
1. Ganglion cyst
A ganglion cyst is the most common of hand or wrist tumors; it is not cancerous. It is caused by a blockage of the peripheral nerve and can develop as a result of inflammation or a traumatic injury.
It can develop at the base of your fingers or near the finger joints. It usually occurs on the wrist and appears as a small, round mass that ranges from less than an inch to 4 inches in diameter.The cyst will feel very hard and usually be filled with fluid.
While some cysts can be the size of a pea, they can also grow to the size of a golf ball, explains Dr. Leena Jain, a highly-skilled plastic surgeon in Borivali, Mumbai.
Ganglion cyst symptoms
The following symptoms may occur if the cyst presses a nerve:
- Pain
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness
Treatment of Ganglion cyst
A ganglion cyst can be treated in several ways, such as:
- Surgery - A surgery is the most definitive answer to a ganglion.. The doctor will remove the cyst as well as the stalk connecting it to the tendon or joint during surgery. It is done as a day care surgery with a healing time of about 8-10 days.
2.Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath
A tendon sheath tumor is the 2nd most common type of hand tumor. They are most often found on the fingers, both on the volar or dorsal aspects. Tendon sheath tumors are rare and benign; they grow very slowly and tend to be small. They are not dangerous, but they may cause pain in some cases.
The tumor occurs in people aged between 30 and 50, affecting women more frequently than men (3 - 6).
Tendon sheath tumor symptoms
Although usually painless, symptoms may include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Limitation of joint movement
Treatment of tendon sheath tumor
The main course of treatment for giant cell tumors is surgery It can be done under local anaesthesia as a day care procedure.
3.Epidermal inclusion cyst
It is the 3rd most common hand tumor and is also not cancerous. It occurs beneath the skin in an area that may have had a puncture or cut. It is typically filled with keratin which is a squishy waxy protein.
Epidermal inclusion cyst symptoms
If the cyst becomes infected, symptoms may include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Redness
Treatment of infected epidermal inclusion cyst
Surgery -The cyst can be surgically after a local anesthetic has numbed the skin.
Other less common hand tumors
Other types of hand tumors are less common.
- lipomas (a lump made up of fatty tissue)
- Vascular malformations (tumors of blood vessels)
- neuromas (tumors of the nerve tissue)
- fibromas (a tumor that affects the connective tissue)
- glomus tumors (a tumor of capillaries/ fine blood vessels that affects the fingertip or around the nail)
of these, lipomas are the most common even in hand.
If you notice any changes in your wrist or hand, please get in touch with an accomplished plastic surgeon like Dr. Leena Jain for a proper assessment and treatment. She is among the preferred specialists for people seeking hand surgery in Mumbai.
Conclusion
The hand is an integral part of the human body, and tumorous growth in the hand can be pretty serious. Although hand tumors are not much known, they do occur and can cause discomfort that can affect the quality of your life. Any tumor found on the hand or wrist is known as a hand tumor. The most common type of hand tumor is called a ganglion cyst. It is also known as a ganglion or keystone tumor, which usually forms underneath the skin in the wrist area. The tumor is not dangerous, but it can sometimes be annoying and painful.
Hand tumors may appear for no apparent reason or may be triggered by other factors like soft tissue injuries and arthritis.
It can be alarming if you see a growth on your hand or fingers. Fortunately, most of them are benign and can be removed with little consequence. However, some types of tumors can become serious if left untreated. If you are seeking treatment in Mumbai for a persistent lump in your hand, please consult the proficient plastic surgeon, Dr. Leena Jain, for a safe and effective treatment.
