Lipomatous tumours of the hand and wrist A series of 25 cases and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: consequently reports in the international literature are mainly of individual cases and small series.

Material Of Study: This is a retrospective review of a series of 25 patients with lipomatous tumours of the hand and wrist treated between 2001 and 2009. All patients underwent clinical and radiological assessment and a marginal excisional biopsy. 23 lipomas, 1 fibrolipomatous hamartoma (FLH) and 1 well differentiated lipoma-like liposarcoma/atypical lipomatous tumour (WDLLL/ALT) were identified.

Conclusion: Choosing the most appropriate investigations is mandatory for a correct diagnosis and planning. Ultrasound should always be considered as the first line investigation. MRI helps delineating the anatomy of the lesions and their relationships with the surrounding structures in the hand and wrist, enabling more accurate surgical planning. Histological examination of the excised specimen remains the gold standard for the formulation of the definitive diagnosis and should be performed in every case.

Key Words: Digits tumours, Fibrolipomatous hamartoma, Hand tumours, Lipoma, Lipoma-like liposarcoma, Wrist tumours.