Usually, lumps on the wrist and hand are not a cause for alarm. Even then, they should not be ignored. It is important to visit a physician to have them take a closer look at the lump and determine whether it is benign or cancerous.
Early identification of lumps on the wrist and hand and treatment give you the best chances of recovery regardless of what the lump turns out to be. Although cancerous conditions such as soft tissues, malignancies, none or cartilage are rare, there is still a possibility, which is why early detection is vital.
What Conditions Could the Lumps on My Hands or Wrist Be?
Several factors are attributed to causing lumps on the hands and wrists. Some of the common issues that can give rise in the hands and wrist include the following:
Ganglion Cysts
Ganglion cysts form when the lining inside your small joints develops a pouch, allowing fluid to leak inside. This is the most common reason for hand and wrist lumps, and such lumps are benign.
Ganglion cysts can also occur in the sheath that covers the tendons or the knuckle joints, in which case the lump is called a mucous cyst.
Giant Cell Tumours
Despite the name, giant cell tumours are also benign growths on the soft tissue inside the joint and tendons’ sheath and lining. They can cause discomfort, but they are easy to remove. However, they tend to return, so regular checks may be recommended for regrowth.
Inclusion Cysts
Inclusion cysts mainly occur after a penetrating wound on the fingers or hands. The force of the instrument that causes the wound can drive the surface cells into the deep layers of the hand and finger.
As these cells grow inside, they heal wounds; they can expand in size over several months and years, becoming an abnormal growth. Inclusion cysts are benign but can cause discomfort and limit motion depending on where they grow. The
Dupuytren Disease
Dupuytren disease results from an imbalance in the body’s ability to control healing and scarring. It causes firm and painful nodules to form under or attached to the skin.
The condition has genetic predispositions. Therefore, people from families with a history of the condition should visit the doctor regularly for early signs of it.
Carpal Boss
Carpal boss appears like a bone spur on your hand. It is a hard, bone-like lump that develops in your wrist. Carpal boss is osteoarthritis that grows out of the bone in the back of your hand. It is believed to form over time from repetitive stress on your wrist or traumatic injury. The lump is painless, but some patients have reported discomfort and pain while moving the affected wrist.
Enchondroma
An enchondroma is a benign tumour on the hand. It usually forms when bone cells change into cartilage and form in the small bones of the hand, but it can also occur in other bones in the arms and legs.
Enchondromas are rare but can become cancerous. Keeping close track of their development is important, especially since they are painless and easy to ignore. Besides the cancerous threat the lump presents, enchondromas also weaken bones by partially turning them into cartilage. People with fractures are also at risk of enchondromas.
Lipomas
Lipomas are among the most commonly occurring benign tumours in the body. They can also affect the wrist but are relatively rare in this area because of the limited amount of soft tissue.
Lipomas are more common in older individuals and those with a family history of the condition. On the hand, lipomas usually form on the palm, close to the thumb, but can also occur on other areas on the hand or wrist.
The lumps are usually filled with fat tissue and are soft to the touch. Although they rarely cause pain, they can impair movement and affect the appearance of the hand.
Wart and Calluses
Warts and lamps are other common growths. They are benign growths caused by exposure to the human papillomavirus, usually through direct skin contact or sharing personal items like towels or washing clothes with an infected person.
They are easily treatable with over-the-counter medication but can resolve independently if given time.
However, although warts are benign, a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma mimics some of their characteristics, making it crucial to have them examined. Typically, you should examine the warts when they crust or bleed. The examination should be done as early as possible because early diagnosis and intervention increase the chances of a positive outcome.
Conversely, calluses are more predictable and usually occur from repetitive friction or mild injuries. They are dry and rough growths that are not painful but can be tender under pressure. Calluses will usually resolve themselves without treatment if you stop the activities causing skin hardening. Additionally, using gloves when working your hands and regular exfoliation usually solves the problem.
Arthritis-induced Hand and Wrist Abnormalities
Lumps in the hands and wrists can also be caused by common conditions such as gout, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, which can also cause swelling in the hands.
Small bony growths on the fingers called Heberden’s nodes and Bouchard’s nodes can also cause swelling and loss of motion.
It’s common for people with rheumatoid arthritis to develop nodules and swelling in the tissues surrounding the joints. Gout flareups are one condition that can cause such swellings, which can be accompanied by intense pain and chalky deposits in the tissues of the hand.
Vascular Conditions
Lumps and tumours can also develop in the blood vessels and lymphatic system. Most of these lumps are benign but can be caused by other abnormalities such as aneurysms, lymphangiosarcomas and angiosarcomas, which can be more severe and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Trigger Finger
A trigger finger is caused by a node on the tendon of your finger, keeping it from gliding through the sheathing that covers it. When that happens, the finger sticks in a bent position and looks like you’re pulling the trigger. The condition can have various risk factors, which include the following:
- Age and gender. Women over 60 years have a higher risk of getting trigger finger
- Diabetes
- Low thyroid functions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Having a hobby or occupation involves repetitive use of your hand or fingers.
This is a benign but disabling condition. Its treatment includes using splints, steroid injections or even surgery.
Cancer in the Wrists or Hands
Cancer in the wrists or hands is not common, but it is also not unheard of. Cancerous tumours in the hands and wrist usually come from cancer cells that have spread from tumours in other parts of the body.
Most hand and wrist cancers are caused by skin malignancies such as squamous cell carcinomas, melanomas, or basal cell carcinomas. However, some malignant tumours, like sarcomas, can form in the cartilage and bones of the hand.
It is highly recommended to make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you lump your hand to rule out more serious conditions such as cancer.
An ultrasound is one of the diagnostic procedures you will undergo to investigate the abnormalities in your hand or wrist.
Types of Hand and Wrist Lumps That Can Be Detected Using an Ultrasound
Ultrasounds are a quick, painless, and effective diagnostic tool for detecting various hand and wrist issues. In the same way that ultrasounds are used to investigate lumps in the breast, they can examine images of lumps in the hand or wrist in detail. This can give the physician a better understanding of their cause and composition.
A hand or wrist ultrasound can detect various conditions that cause lumps in the wrist like the following:
- Range of movement issues
- Joint, muscle, ligament and tendon abnormalities
- Inflammation and fluid build-up
- Tumours and other masses
- Pain in the fingers, wrists and hands
Depending on the findings of the hand ultrasound scan on your hand or wrist, your healthcare provider can determine whether additional tests are necessary to gather more information and the type of treatment required for your condition. Some additional tests that may be ordered to further investigate the lump include a biopsy, X-ray, and CT scans.
What to Expect During a Hand or Wrist Ultrasound Scan
Hand and wrist ultrasounds are straightforward procedures that only take a few minutes to complete. Because the examination is non-invasive, you won’t need much preparation.
However, you can make the process much easier by wearing a short-sleeved shirt, sweater or blouse to protect your clothing from the gel the private ultrasound specialist uses. If you have jewellery, you should be prepared to remove it before the scan.
The sonographer will ask you to place your wrist on an exam table when starting the scan. They will then apply a gel that makes it easier for the ultrasound probe to move over your skin and capture clear images of the affected area.
The probe will be placed on your hand or wrist and moved around to generate images. The images will appear on a screen, and the sonographer, through their training, should get an accurate picture of your condition, including the contents of the lump or cysts.
The technician will review the results with you, provide you with written results that you can take to your doctor, and inform you whether additional scans and tests are needed to investigate the abnormality further.
