(Objective) Recent advances in testing equipment have facilitated more frequent diagnosis of soft tissue tumors of the hand in outpatient clinics. To determine whether location, size and morphology can aid the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors of the hand, we analyzed data obtained from patients who underwent surgery at our institution. (Methods) Histopathological diagnosis, onset order, onset location and clinical features were retrospectively evaluated from 98 soft tissue tumors of the hand and wrist that were surgically resected after 1997. (Results) The 97 tumors consisted of: 58 ganglions, 7 epidermoid tumors, 6 glomus tumors, 5 hemangiomas, 4 neurogenic tumors, 4 giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath, 3 lipomas, 3 mucous cysts, and 8 other benign tumors. None of the 98 soft tissue tumors were malignant. The most common location of ganglions was the flexor tendon sheath, followed by the dorsal side of the wrist. The majority of epidermoid cysts arose in the subcutaneous tissue of the finger, while glomus tumors tended to arise under the nails. The onset location for the other soft tissue tumors varied. Spontaneous pain and tenderness were commonly seen with the glomus tumors; tenderness was commonly seen with the hemangiomas; and tenderness and irradiating pain were commonly seen with the neurogenic tumors.
