[Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in tumors of the bones of the hand]

The diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the skeleton of the hand are reviewed. Benign enchondromas were found to be the most common. Primary osteogenetic sarcoma was rare as was malignant degeneration in initially benign tumors and in the bony manifestations of systemic disease such as neurofibromatosis or hyperparathyroidism. Tumors were more common in phalanges and metacarpals than in the carpus and showed their highest incidence in the 4th decade. Diagnosis was aided by angiography and bone-scanning. Some difficulties were encountered in pathological examination. Treatment involved curettage and cancellous grafting in small tumors, en bloc resection followed by osteosynthetic stabilisation in larger instances and radical ablation followed by chemotherapy in malignancy.