Lumps in the hand and wrist are very common but fortunately they are mostly benign and treatable. A simple question can give an indication of the nature of the lump:
Does the lump fluctuate and change in size?
- Yes - this is most likely to be a ganglion cyst
- No - this indicates the lump is more likely to be solid
Typical common solid benign lumps seen in the hand and wrist are:
- Giant cell tumour of tendon sheath: (also known a PVNS - pigmented vilonodular synovitis). This is one of the commonest solid lumps in the fingers. It can be removed and usually does not cause any further problems.
- Lipoma: This is a benign fatty lump. It is very common on the abdomen, legs and forearms, but it can occur in the hand.
- Vascular tumours: There are a number of lumps found in the hand which are derived from the blood vessels. These may have a bluish colour to them.
- Nerve tumours: These are not common and may be associate with nerve symptoms such as tingling or numbness.
Whilst most solid lumps are benign an assessment by your surgeon is recommended.