Lesions of the bones of the hands and feet

Neoplasms and their simulators in the bones of the hands and feet include the majority of those found in other skeletal sites, and a disproportionate number of some. We examined the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of 240 lesions of the hand and foot bones. Benign tumors and lesions including reactive and reparative conditions comprised 203 cases. The largest single category of neoplasms was that with cartilaginous differentiation, with enchondromas (29 cases) and chondrosarcomas (15 cases) the most common. Noncartilaginous malignant tumors were infrequent and displayed typical radiologic and pathologic features. Florid reactive periostitis, bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferations, and giant cell reparative granulomas made up a larger percentage of lesions in these locations than in other skeletal sites. Lesions of the bones of the hands and feet may frequently be biopsied or treated at hospitals without large orthopedic tumor services. Thus, it is important for the surgical pathologist to be aware of the frequency and characteristics of lesions which may present in these sites.