Epidemiological and histopathological analysis of soft tissue tumors of the hand

Objectives: The spectrum of soft tissue tumors of the hand is wide. The type of tumor can vary based on demographic factors, such as a patient’s gender and age. Furthermore, certain tumors arise more commonly in particular locations on the hand. This study aimed to determine the incidence and recurrence rates of soft tissue tumors of the hand and to discuss the most common types of tumors based on tumoral parameters, demographic data, and histopathological findings with a brief review of the literature.

Methods: We analyzed the clinical data and the pathology reports of all patients who underwent surgery in our hand and microsurgery department between January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2016. We evaluated the demographic data, surgical information, tumor type, size and location, histopathological diagnoses and immunohistochemical findings. We also determined the recurrence rates of the patients after a 2-year follow up.

Results: In our center, 302 surgical resections were performed between January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2016. Ganglion, which is a pseudotumoral lesion, was the most common space occupying lesion (n=102, 34%). Of the 302 resections, 66% were tumoral cases (n=200). Giant cell tenosynovial tumor (n=55, 27.5%) was the most common benign tumor, followed by glomus tumor (n=34, 17%), pyogenic granuloma (n=15, 7.5%), and cystic hygroma (n=14, 7%).

Conclusion: In accordance with the literature, in the present study, most of the patients (99%) that underwent surgery had benign diagnoses. Synovial sarcoma was the only malignant tumor observed in the study population.

Key words: Hand, tumor, soft tissue, microsurgery