This is a frequent presentation of lumps and bumps in the palm of the hand which I see in my clinic. The most common diagnoses at the exact location of where your bump is include the following:
- Flexor sheath ganglion cyst
- Pigmented villonodular synovitis (also known as a giant cell tumour)
- Thrombosed hemangioma / arteriovenous malformation
The first and second diagnoses are by far the most common in my experience. Imaging modalities may give a clear picture on what the lump is and where it is arising from. It includes:
- ultrasound or
- MRI scans for such lumps.
Unfortunately, the only treatment to remove such a lump in the hand is surgery. Surgical excision not only removes the lump, but also allows the doctor to send the tissue specimen for histological examination to obtain a definitive diagnosis.
Most of these lumps are benign in nature and are not life-threatening. However, they may change in size, becoming larger or smaller. The compressive symptoms caused by an enlarging lump may worsen pain and discomfort in the area, especially when one grasps hard objects such as bars and handles. In these cases, it would be desirable for the patient to have the lump removed to eliminate these symptoms.
