There are 4 main types of lumps:

• Giant cell tumour: These are made up of cells from the lining of the tendon sheath or joint capsule. It is a local problem and does not spread.
• Lipoma: These are made up of fat cells and are less common in the hand.
• Fibroma: These are made of fibrous cells on or just below the skins surface and most commonly occurring after an injury.
• Neuroma: These are made of nerve cells, and occur following an injury (symptoms will include pain and numbness) or cells that surround the nerve (Shwannoma) and are usually painless.

There are other causes of lumps including (but not exclusively) calcification, gout, blood vessels, arthritis and Dupuytren’s disease.  

Diagnosis:

Our consultants will begin by asking about your medical history, your symptoms and how the lump started. If the type of lump is not obvious a referral for an ultrasound or  MRI scan may be arranged.

Treatment options:

• Watch and wait: The lump can be left, however typically it will slowly get bigger, making treating in the future more complex.
• Surgery: Usually under local anaesthetic, the tissues, nerves and blood vessels are preserved and the lump removed. It will be sent to a laboratory to confirm the type of lump removed as standard procedure. Most patients can resume normal activities including driving 5-7 days after surgery. 90% of patients report a good or excellent results. Recurrence (regrowth) of the lump may occur.