Vascular tumours of the hand.

The series comprises 74 patients with benign and 2 with malignant vascular tumours located in the upper extremity and treated at our hospital during the period 1962-80. In 9 instances the tumour was associated with skeletal hypertrophy of the involved extremity (Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome), whereas in another 7 patients a hypotrophy of the skeleton of the affected extremity was seen. Preoperative angiography was performed on 39 patients and characteristic features for the various types of tumours are discussed. Fifty-nine patients underwent surgical treatment. The observation period ranged from 1 to 18 years (mean 7 years). Twenty-six patients were cured, 19 improved, and 14 had recurrence. The cure rate was found to depend on the presence of arteriovenous shunts, the size of the tumour and its localization. Tumours with diameters of less than or equal to 2 cm located on the fingers or on the dorsum of the hand had the best prognosis.