Evaluation of Phalangeal Benign Soft-Tissue Tumors of the Hand and Systemic Review of the Literature

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Our aim in this study is to evaluate patients with phalangeal benign soft-tissue tumors of the hand and to evaluate their short-term complications after surgery. METHODS: Between January 2019 and October 2021, 59 patients (31 female, 28 male; mean age 48.96+-13.33, range 20–75 years) with phalangeal soft-tissue tumors were evaluated according to demographic data, histopathological diagnosis, satisfaction level, recurrence, and complications. RESULTS: The most common phalangeal soft-tissue tumor was tenosynovial giant cell tumors (n=15, 38.4%). Other frequent histologies included ganglion cysts (12.8%), epidermal inclusion cyst (10.25%), and fibrolipoma (7.6%). Soft-tissue tumors were most commonly found on second and third phalanx (both 26.2%), followed by fourth (13.8%), first (12.3%), and fifth (9.2%) The location of soft-tissue tumors was found in the phalanx of hands that were 40% proximal, 29.2% distal, and 30.8% in different parts of the phalanx. The mean visual analog scale score was 5.9+-3.1 before excisional surgery; it was 3.47+-1.3 at the last follow-up (p<0.01). Seven patients had recurrence after the surgery (11.8%). Surgical site infection was the other complication and seen in three patients (5%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our experience has shown that the most frequently observed soft-tissue phalanx tumors are tenosynovial giant cell tumors. Excisional surgical treatment of soft-tissue tumors of the phalanx is a surgery that requires attention to get good satisfaction rates and low recurrence and complication rates.

Keywords

• bening soft tissue tumours
• excisional surgery
• histopathological
• phalanx
• visual analogue scale.