Epidermoid Cyst of the Terminal Phalanx of the Hand

Abstract

EPIDERMOID CYSTS of the bony skeleton of the hand and specifically of the phalanges have been periodically described since Sonntag's original report in 1923.¹Less than 50 cases have been reported in the literature. As it is a comparatively uncommon entity, the addition of a new case and a brief review of the clinical features is considered pertinent. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 38-year-old married, oil company employee had crushed his middle three fingers between two pipes while at work on June 30, 1962. Initial treatment consisted of local cleansing and application of a topical ointment but without x-ray examination. The wounds apparently healed uneventfully, but subsequently, the middle-digit nail plate developed a longitudinal fissure and the fingertip was intermittently painful and swollen. Pain was aggravated even by light touch and became progressively worse in the six weeks prior to seeking medical attention on May 7, 1963. Past history