Skin tumours of the hand. A 10-year review

A 10-year retrospective study was performed in order to determine the incidence, distribution, histological type and behaviour of skin tumours of the hand that were referred to a regional Plastic Surgery unit. 85 patients were studied and 98 malignant or pre-malignant lesions identified. The majority were squamous cell carcinomas in male manual workers. Recurrence after excision was seen only in lesions greater than 1.5 cm in diameter. The overall incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the hand (requiring surgical excision) was seen to be five cases per million per year. Other skin tumours were rare.