Vascular malformation within the flexor tendon sheath

Thrombosed vascular malformation within the flexor tendon sheath of the index finger in the palm

Vascular malformations are relatively infrequent among benign lesions of the hand. We report the case of an arteriovenous malformation in a 48-year-old white woman presenting a mass in her left hand without any symptoms. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and the lesion completely removed by surgery.

Soft tissue tumors of the hand. 1. Benign

Soft tissue tumors of the hand arise from skin, subcutaneous tissue, tendons, nerve, and blood vessels. Many of these lesions occur on other parts of the body; however, the hand remains a unique site because these tumors have symptoms, appearances, treatments, and prognoses that may be quite different than when on other parts of the body. Their characteristics and the severity of symptoms vary markedly depending on the exact location, size, and type of tumor-and many of these tumors can have multiple forms of presentation. Two articles are intended to provide an overview of benign (this article) and malignant tumors (subsequent issue) of the hand. The rarer and more deleterious tumors are discussed in detail while the common tumors and epidermal lesions with which practitioners are familiar are briefly overviewed. At the completion of these review articles, participants should be able to identify and diagnose various benign and malignant hand tumors as well as understand the accepted current treatment of these growths.

Imaging of the pediatric hand: Soft tissue abnormalities

This review attempts to demonstrate the spectrum of soft tissue masses encountered in the child's hand. The diagnosis may be suggested by the combination of physical exam and radiographs. Frequently the etiology of a soft tissue mass cannot be established by conventional radiographs and further imaging is necessary. MRI by virtue of its ability to provide detailed soft tissue characterization is the preferred method of imaging the problematic soft tissue mass.

The historical importance of the hand in advancing the study of human anatomy

Anatomy is often considered the foundation of medical science and is basic to the education of health professionals. This report will attempt to summarize the history of anatomy from antiquity to modern times. In addition it will highlight the historical importance of the upper extremity and its relationship to the development of human anatomy as a recognized medical science.