A retrospective epidemiologic study on upper extremity tumors in Firozgar Hospital

Introduction: Epidemiologic data of upper extremity tumors are still few and sometimes conflicting. In our department, hand surgeons manage these tumors. Good documentation of patients’ information permitted us to make an epidemiologic study on the tumors of the upper extremity operated in our department. Methods: We retrospectively studied all the cases of upper extremity tumors operated from 1992 to 2012. The required files were collected from the hospital’s databank and the pathology report from the registry of the department of histology. Results: The mean age of patients was 37.91 years (from 3 to 83 years). The series included 100 patients (60 women and 40 men). Tumors concerned soft tissues in 78 cases (78%), bone in 18 cases (18%), and skin in 4 cases. Nearly all the malignant hand tumors were found in men (5 males, one female). Conclusions: The data are comparable to other published studies. Upper extremity tumors are more prevalent in females (60%). The prevalence of bone tumors (18%) in our study is greater than other studies (from 1.6% to 11.4%) and the prevalence of skin tumors is lower (4%). Except for skin tumors where recruitment modalities are more variable, this series seems to be a good reflection of the prevalence of the different types of hand and wrist tumors.