Some inexplicable lumps often appear on the hands, and the appearance of these lumps often makes people very worried that they are malignant tumors and life-threatening. It is true that some malignant tumors do grow on hands, but the probability of malignant tumors on hands is very low, and most of the lumps are benign tumors with good healing process. Let’s take a look at what benign tumors can grow on the hand. Tendon sheath cysts: Hard lumps that grow near the joints are often the most likely to occur, and patients tend to think they are from their own bones, but they are not, as these lumps often come from the flexor tendon sheath or joint capsule, and are a type of cyst, named tendon sheath cysts because of their origin. These cysts are usually not too large and are painful to press on, and their cause is similar to the occurrence of tenosynovitis. This cyst is like a balloon, which is essentially a bubble filled with joint fluid, which is why tendon sheath cysts can be treated by squeezing or removing the fluid from the capsule. So the question arises, how does the joint fluid get into the cyst? Actually, there is no accepted answer to this question. My personal opinion is that it is related to the breakage or softening of the joint capsule after repeated activities, which allows the joint fluid to flow out and stay after passing through relatively dense tissues. In other words, tendon sheath cysts are an indication of the presence of damage to the joint, which may explain why such masses are prone to recurrence. For the treatment of tendon sheath cysts, cysts that have been occurring for a relatively short period of time can be removed by compression because of their thin walls. Cysts that have been occurring for a relatively long time and cannot be pressed through can be treated by aspiration of the joint fluid, but this method is not very applicable if the cyst has become separated. The two methods mentioned above are relatively easy, but are relatively prone to recurrence because they do not completely block the pathway for the flow of joint fluid. Surgery is the last resort for this disease. An experienced surgeon removes the cyst and looks for the source of the joint fluid. In medicine, we call the area where the cyst is attached to the joint the tip of the cyst, and only by removing the tip as well can the chance of recurrence be minimized. Mucinous cyst: Sometimes we see the diagnosis of mucinous cyst, which is not very different from tenosynovial cyst, and medically we call the cyst that grows on the dorsal side of the last joint of the finger as mucinous cyst, and the treatment is basically the same as tenosynovial cyst. Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath: Also known as xanthogranuloma, it is found on the finger. If you have an irregular, hard lump on your finger that is well-defined but immobile, it is most likely a giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath. This is a benign mass that grows on the tendon sheath tissue, but it has a bad habit of “taking over”. As it grows, it will slowly occupy the position of tendons, bones and other tissues, affecting function. So this type of lump is recommended to be operated as soon as possible. Epidermoid cyst: If there is a soft lump on the finger and the skin has been broken before, it is likely that there is an epidermoid cyst. This is the product of broken skin that has entered the finger. Although this is also a cyst, it is completely different from a tendon sheath cyst and cannot be treated by squeezing or suctioning. When we cut the cyst open, we will find that instead of sticky joint fluid, this cyst contains a substance that resembles tofu residue. Lipoma: This is also a soft lump, sometimes painful, and usually grows in places with loose skin and more subcutaneous fat. In the hand, the location of the tiger’s mouth between the thumb and index finger is the favorite part of the lipoma to occupy, which is also a benign lump, and it is fine if it is cut or not. Inflammatory granuloma: It is also called hemorrhagic granuloma. If there is a small wound, did not grow well, inside a small red granuloma, after a few days the surface of the scab, and so scab off and bleeding, so repeatedly, the small granuloma is getting bigger and bigger, that is this lump is right. The treatment is not troublesome, it can be cut off surgically, as long as the buds are removed at the time of excision, the wound will grow well. Angioblastoma: This is a tumor, but on the surface, we can’t see where a piece is protruding. Why? Because this lump likes to grow under the nail cap. So how to find it? Pain. A fixed pressure point on the nail is highly suspicious of this swollen disease. Surgery is also the only way to treat this swelling. Metacarpal tendon contracture: this is not a tumor, but it does look like he has a piece of it. If multiple hard nodules are found in the palm, and they stick together with the surrounding tissues, and there is no way to move them without pain or itching, and slowly they form an irregular mass, or in more serious cases, the fingers far from the mass slowly become unable to stretch straight, then most likely they have a contracture of the palmar tendon. This disease is very common in Europe and the United States, China used to be rare, but recently there have been more, mostly in middle-aged and older men. It is not a tumor, but is caused by the wrinkling of the palmar tendon tissue (the unique tissue under the skin of the palm), and when the wrinkling is severe, it pulls on the fingers and affects the straightening. For this disease, my advice is that if there is no functional effect, no treatment is needed. If it affects the straightening of the finger, then after the disease is stabilized, that is, six months after the finger is no longer further bent, come back for surgical treatment. Black moles: It does not mean that any black moles are malignant melanoma, those are just ordinary moles, benign. The black lines that appear on the nail are also often caused by this type of benign disease. If you are worried, just cut it off. As for malignant tumors on the hands, there aren’t many. Squamous cell carcinoma is a kind of skin tumor and the most common malignant tumor on the hand. If there is a wound on the hand that does not heal for years and the shape of the wound is somewhat like a crater, then it is suspected to be squamous carcinoma and needs to be operated as soon as possible. Although it is a malignant tumor, if treated early, it has good results and does not even affect the function of the hand.