Abstract
Objectives: Although lipomas are seen frequently in upper limb they are rarerly seen in the hand. In this study we report on 12 patients of giant lipoma in hand. The mean age was 61 years (53-72 years).
Methods: All of the tumors evaluated with plain radiographs, contrasted MRI and tru-cut biopsy under the supervision of multidisiplinary tumour council. There were pinch limitations in the thenar located tumours and were grip limitations in thenar and hypothenar located tumours. In large hypothenar located case, there were hyposthesia in ulnar nerve and hyposthesia in thumb and index finger were observed in thenar located cases. All of the patients underwent marginal exisions. Average dimension of the longest part of the tumours was 5.5 cm. In three cases, neurovascular structures were contiguous to the tumour and careful dissections were applied and tumours were separated from the nerves.
Results: The mean follow up period was 18 months. No post operative complications were detected. At final control there was no evidence of recurrance.
Conclusion: Although the giant lipomas of the hand are barely seen they must be kept in mind for differential diagnosis of tumours of hand.

Key words: benign tumour; giant lipoma; hand; hypoesthesia