Osseous Tumours of the Hand: A Review of 99 Cases in 20 Years

Abstract

<br/><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Background: </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;">Tumors involving the hand skeleton are rare. However, a basic knowledge of hand tumors is necessary for every clinician. This is due to the importance of distinguishing typical benign tumors from life or limb threatening malignant ones. </span></span><br/>Methods: <br/><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;">This study is a review of 99 cases of osseous hand tumors presented to the department of orthopedic surgery, Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from December 1990 to February 2011.</span></span> <br/>Results: <br/><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;">Ninety-one cases were benign osseous tumors of the hand and eight tumors were malignant which four of them were considered as primary and four considered as metastatic type. The most common benign tumors were enchondroma and osteoid osteoma. Other benign tumors were epidermoid bone cyst, giant cell tumor of the bone, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteoblastoma, and osteochondroma. Primary malignant tumors were extremely rare and we have reported two chondrosarcomas, one osteosarcoma and one Ewing's sarcoma involving the hand skeleton. </span></span><br/>Conclusion: <br/><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;">This study indicates that the history, physical examination, laboratory and radiographic data as well as clinicians' </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;">knowledge of specific hand tumors are required for the best management strategy. New techniques could lead to earlier di</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Arial; font-size: xx-small;">agnosis, prevent complications and indentify the most effective type of treatment.</span></span>