Ultrasound examination of the hand.

Abstract

Twenty-five surgically confirmed soft-tissue lesions of the hand were examined prospectively by real-time ultrasound. Use of sonography enabled a reliable diagnosis of the cystic or solid nature of soft-tissue lesions, an accurate estimation of the volume and precise 3-dimensional localization of the abnormality. [Pathologic confirmation of lesions was obtained, which included the histologic diagnosis of 25 masses examined by sonography as follows: synovial cysts, 8; pseudotumoral reactions to foreign bodies, 4; giant-cell tumors, 2; fibrohistiocytoma, 2; angioma, 2; glomus tumor, 2; tenosynovitis, 2 benign schwannoma, 1; sebaceous cyst, 1; and epidermoid cyst, 1.] Sonography also facilitated the location of foreign bodies. Assessment of anatomic relationships of these lesions to tendons and surrounding structures by realtime sonography during palpation, flexion, and/or extension also aided in the surgical approach.