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We report a case of a fisherman presenting with a rare and unusual carpal tunnel syndrome due to Mycobacterium marinum infection of the hand and wrist. The infection resulted in severe pain, paresthesia and restriction of movement in the hand.Flexor tenosynovectomy, followed by histological and microbiological studies, indicated the presence of atypical mycobacteria. The patient was started on a combination antimicrobial therapy for 6 months. The patient regained full range of motion and returned to perform daily activities with ease.Diagnosis of M. marinum infection of the hand is challenging as the presentation mimics other conditions and may have nonspecific histological findings. This atypical mycobacterium may also show resistance to commonly used antitubercular drugs. Hand surgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion of M. marinum and adopt a multiteam approach to prevent delay in diagnosis for successful treatment., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer which most commonly occurs on the head and neck. A limited number of cases of MCC of the hand have been reported in the English literature. We describe a case of MCC of the hand in a man in his late 60s. The lesion presented on the dorsum of the left fifth digit, with metastasis to the left axillary lymph nodes. The primary lesion grew rapidly over a span of 3 months. The patient was treated with two courses of neoadjuvant nivolumab, amputation of the digit and left axillary lymph node resection followed by radiotherapy to the left hand and left axilla. He continues to follow-up for radiotherapy treatment 3 months postoperatively., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Cutaneous neuroendocrine tumours are rare and aggressive tumours associated with advanced age and immunosuppression. They are typically characterised by a high rate of local recurrence and nodal disease. The presence of a mixed squamous cell component is rare. These tumours are uncommonly found on the hand. We present a case and histological images of a 78-year-old woman with a primary CK20 negative TTF-1 positive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumour with squamous dedifferentiation arising from the fifth digit with axillary metastasis showing a mixed phenotype. Initial biopsy of the lesion was positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin and TTF-1, but negative for CK20, Melan-A and S100. After CT of the thorax abdomen and pelvis and octreotide single positron emission CT demonstrated a 15 mm axillary metastasis and no evidence of distal disease, our patient underwent an amputation of the affected digit and an axillary lymph node dissection. She is currently awaiting adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Only two cases are reported in the literature to have mixed squamous/neuroendocrine features. We present the first case which is CK20 negative and TTF-1 positive., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Spindle cell lipomas are a rare subtype of lipoma typically occurring in the shawl region of middle-aged men with a characteristic histological appearance consisting of mature adipocytes, ropey collagen and spindle cells. Those of extraordinary size or atypical anatomic location require a proper immunohistological workup to rule out more ominous malignancy. The authors report the rare presentation of a 54-year-old man with a large mass of the left palm causing discomfort and paresthesia for 6 months. Radiographs showed a radiolucent mass without mineralisation or bony involvement. MRI demonstrated a non-contrast-enhancing homogeneous lipomatous mass encompassing flexor tendons of the palm. Elective excisional biopsy and immunohistological analysis were consistent with spindle cell lipoma measuring 11 cm × 7 cm × 4 cm. This case is the largest spindle cell lipoma of the hand reported in the literature and appears to be the largest described in the upper extremity., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We report a rare yet typical presentation of a severe infection with Mycobacterium marinum that affected the deep structure of the hand and wrist of a 43-old fish breeder. A combination therapy of surgical debridement and antibiotic treatment with clarithromycin and ethambutol for 6 months led to a total resolution of the symptoms. Intensive rehabilitation completely restored the function of the hand., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Currently, there are few effective therapies for locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC); however, there is recent evidence supporting the use of immunological therapies in cSCC given the typically high mutation burden and association with immunosuppressed states. This report describes a 56-year-old man presenting with synchronous, invasive cSCC on the right temple and right dorsum of the hand deemed unfavourable for surgical resection. The patient was treated with nine infusions of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor therapy, pembrolizumab, with clinical and radiographical resolution of his lesions. This case illustrates the potential use of anti-PD-1 antibody as a first-line treatment in the setting of advanced, unresectable cSCC., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Tophaceous gout occurs years after recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis. The urate deposits are incriminated in the inflammatory process; however, their infection is exceptional. We report the observation of an infected gouty tophus of the pinky and the wrist of a 40-year-old man, presented as an excruciating inflammatory pain with buff-yellow swelling of the fifth right finger and wrist in a febrile context. As a matter of fact, the evolution was favourable after surgical excision and antibiotic therapy. The infection of a tophus is an exceptional complication of the gout. In daily practice, this diagnosis is really a difficult challenge for the clinician. The systematic bacteriological examination of the tophi with cutaneous fistulation is necessary to introduce prematurely an adapted treatment., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2018. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

A 14-year-old girl and a 30-year-old woman presented with localised hyperhidrosis on the dorsal hand and wrist, respectively, provoked by different stimuli such as physical activity and minor trauma to the skin. The skin was seemingly normal in both patients where an iodine-starch test revealed a well-demarcated area of hyperhidrosis. Following histopathological examination, the diagnosis was unilateral localised hyperhidrosis in both cases; one with normal histology and one with a nevus sudoriferous. Both patients were successfully treated with botulinum toxin type A. The 30-year-old woman additionally used low-dose propantheline bromide periodically and experienced long-term remission on this therapy. Hyperhidrosis may embarrass and interfere with patients' school and careers, and it is therefore important to tailor an effective individual treatment., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Lipomas are benign neoplasms derived from adipose tissue composed of mature adipocytes. They account for almost 50% of all soft-tissue neoplasms and occur in up to 2% of the population. They usually present asymptomatically as solitary discrete mobile lumps found most commonly on the neck, upper back, proximal limbs and chest. In less than 1% of cases, they can be found in the distal extremities.We discuss the case of a 65-year-old man who presented with a 2-year history of a slowly enlarging left palm swelling, with recent-onset numbness and loss of power in the distribution of the median nerve. MRI studies showed that the 5×4×2.7 cm lipoma had a component extending into the distal aspect of the carpal tunnel, compressing the median nerve. It was successfully excised, and at follow-up the patient reported complete resolution of his symptoms., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Angioleiomyoma is a benign tumour composed of smooth muscle and vascular tissue. Because of the paucity of smooth muscles in the hand other than tunica media of the blood vessels, its occurrence is quite rare in the hand and only few cases are reported in the English literature. We present the case of a 49-year-old man with benign painless swelling on the dorsum of hand. Differential diagnosis of ganglion cyst and tendon sheath tumour were considered. However, excision biopsy revealed angioleiomyoma. At 2-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrence., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Glomus tumours are rare benign neoplasms arising from the glomus body, accounting for 1-5% of all soft-tissue tumours of the hand. The diagnosis of glomus tumour is frequently delayed, varying from 3 to 15 years. We present a case of a recurred glomus tumour of the thumb where symptoms persisted for a period of 6 years after an attempted surgical excision. The patient presented with classical symptoms of localised tenderness, cold sensitivity and excruciating pain on touch. Findings on radiograph, ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced MRI further supported the diagnosis. Complete surgical excision, the only recommended treatment, resulted in complete symptomatic relief to the patient. This case report highlights the importance of meticulous complete excision and clinical awareness of the disease among primary care physicians., (2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (HrCLM) is a skin disease caused by infection with the larvae of animal hookworms. With conditions for infection more favourable in tropical climates, HrCLM in the UK is classically diagnosed in the returning traveller. We present two cases of clinically diagnosed UK-acquired HrCLM from a district general hospital in the south of England. A 68-year-old woman presented with a pruritic serpiginous tract on the right hand. She was a keen gardener and had been handling compost. A 50-year-old man, a long distance runner, presented with a similar lesion on the dorsum of his foot. Both patients were treated with a single dose of albendazole. These cases may represent an emerging infection in the UK. In the absence of a suggestive travel history, early recognition followed by efficient access to therapy is vital for treating HrCLM transmitted in the UK., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

We report a case of bilateral useless hand syndrome, a rare presenting manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency. A 38-year-old man, a strict vegetarian and a teacher by occupation, presented with acute onset clumsiness of both hands while performing fine movements. Detailed history-taking, examination of the patient and relevant investigations (complete blood count, serum vitamin B12 and MRI of the cervical spinal cord) were carried out. Laboratory analysis was suggestive of vitamin B12 deficiency and MRI demonstrated a lesion involving the posterior columns of the cervical cord. The patient was diagnosed as a case of non-compressive cervical myelopathy predominantly involving the posterior column due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Acute bilateral useless hand syndrome can be a rare presenting feature of vitamin B12 deficiency., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Palmoplantar lichen planus (PPL) is an uncommon type of lichen planus (LP) that exclusively affects the palms and soles. We report a case of a 50-year-old man who had palmoplantar hyperkeratotic papules and plaques. The patient was diagnosed as a case of PPL by skin biopsy, and treated with acitretin. He showed a good response to acitretin within 2 months. Clinical appearance and some features of PPL may differ from classic LP. Acitretin may be a favourable treatment option for PPL., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Arterial cannulation for haemodynamic monitoring has become a routine procedure in the clinical management of critically ill adults. Thrombosis is the most common complication of this procedure. We report the case of a patient with multiple traumatic injuries in which radial artery cannulation was associated with compartment syndrome of the forearm and hand., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Leiomyoma is a generally benign tumour and common in the uterine smooth muscle. In some cases, it is found in other parts of the human body. In our study, we report the case of a 61-year-old woman with a painless cystic lesion on the first left thumb associated with trigger finger. The first diagnostic hypotheses were ganglionic cyst and giant cell tumour, however, after surgical excision and histological analysis, it was revealed to be a rare leiomyoma of the hand. We report a clinical case and detailed histopathological study, with 12 high-resolution images stained with: H&E, Smooth Muscle Actin, Desmin, S-100 and CD34., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Herpes zoster is a secondary reactivation of primary contagious varicella-zoster virus in the dorsal root ganglia. While thoracic zona is common, cervical dermatomal zona is a rare segmental complication of herpes zoster and can be easily misdiagnosed as other diseases. This article describes a patient with initial neuralgia without dermatomal lesions that was treated as ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome until manifestation of herpetiform cutaneous lesions appeared. It is important that clinicians should be aware of the possibility of zoster infection when evaluating the onset of neuralgia in a dermatomal distribution in the upper limb, especially without rash., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Paget's disease of the bone is a focal chronic disorder proceeding with elevated osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity in the affected area. The most common sites are pelvis, femur, lower lumbar vertebrae and skull. Monostotic disease is reported in 15-30% of all cases. We report a case of monostotic Paget's disease of the second metacarpal, which is a rare location even for polyostotic disease., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

A 42-year-old woman being treated with 5-fluorouracil for carcinoma of the sigmoid colon developed persistent serpentine supravenous hyperpigmented eruption (PSSHE), bilateral mottling of the palms and diffuse hyperpigmentation of the soles. To the best of our knowledge, such a combination of findings has not been reported earlier. Recognition and knowledge of this side effect are important as the dose of the drug need not be altered nor is there a need to replace the drug on worries about a serious adverse effect. However, changing the peripheral venous route to the central line can be useful in management of PSSHE., (2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Case 1: A 43-year-old farmer attended our clinic with increasing fatigability, nausea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, postprandial fullness along with thyroid-stimulating hormone value of 0.4 mIU/L and anaemia without any history of cough, chest pain, haemoptysis, osmotic symptoms, haematemesis or malena. The patient received albendazole and iron preparations before attending our clinic. Case 2: A 51-year-old woman, a known patient with type 2 diabetes for the past 8 years, on gliclazide and metformin (2 g), with unaltered liver function test and renal function test, presented with symptoms similar to case 1 of upper gastrointestinal features along with a history of weight loss (about 6 kg) over the past 3 months. Metformin was withdrawn by her primary care physician but her symptoms persisted. A velvety appearance with pigmentation on the palms of the hands was found in both cases. Endoscopy revealed an irregular mass in the stomach. Subsequently, both patients were diagnosed to have gastric adenocarcinoma., (2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Squamous cell carcinoma of the palm is a very infrequent malignancy. Its unusual presentation can produce a delay in the final diagnosis with serious consequences as far as morbidity and mortality are concerned. This article summarises the case of a patient who was referred to our department presenting a squamous cell carcinoma on his left palm and a clinically positive axillar lymphadenopathy. He had previously been wrongly diagnosed on several occasions., (2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

A 62-year-old man presented to our family practice office with a skin lesion that developed over 8-10 months. Over the past 2-3 months the lesion grew more quickly. A 2-3 cm, hard brown projection was noted on the dorsal aspect of his hand. A decision was made to excise the lesion and send it for pathological evaluation. The lesion was found to be a cutaneous horn with invasive squamous cell carcinoma at the base. The margins of the sample were free of cancer cells. Cutaneous horns are raised skin lesions made of dead keratin derived from base keratinocytes. They are frequently found in areas of the body that have had solar exposure. There are a wide variety of histopathological findings at the base of these lesions. They range from benign to premalignant to malignant. Cutaneous horns should be completely excised and sent for pathological evaluation.

Pancoast syndrome, classically considered as a constellation of (1) pain along the C8-T2 dermatomes, (2) weakness and atrophy of the hand and (3) Horner's syndrome, often presents a diagnostic challenge. In fact, it may manifest as a singular orthopaedic complaint, prompting a futile barrage of tests and referrals. The authors present the case of an elderly man who initially presented with severe shoulder pain. Due to progressive pain and weakness, he was referred to rheumatology and was treated with corticosteroid injections for a presumed musculoskeletal lesion. Ultimately, he manifested gross muscular atrophy and worsening pain, prompting a referral to neurology. An electromyogram (EMG) suggested a lower brachial plexopathy, and a follow-up brachial plexus MRI identified a large Pancoast tumour. Unfortunately, his disease was rapidly progressive, and he passed away within 2 months. While the MRI remains the gold standard for diagnosing Pancoast syndrome, an EMG can facilitate diagnosis in difficult cases such as this one.