Lump In Palm Of Hand

Written By: Chloe Wilson BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed By: SPE Medical Review Board

A lump in the palm of the hand is a common concern and can develop for a wide range of reasons.

It may feel soft or firm, painful or painless, and can appear suddenly or build up slowly over time.

In many cases, a palm lump is harmless, but in others it can affect grip strength, finger movement and everyday hand function.

Common causes include Dupuytren’s contracture, ganglion cysts and trigger finger. The location, texture and associated symptoms can provide important clues about the underlying cause.

In this guide, we will look at the most common causes of a lump on the palm of the hand, key symptoms, how they are diagnosed, treatment options and when you should seek medical advice.

Common Causes Of A Lump In Palm Of Hand

A lump in the palm of the hand can come from several different structures, including tendons, connective tissue, skin and nerves. Let’s start by looking at the most common causes of a lump on the palm of the hand.

Other Possible Causes Of Palm Lumps

Less common causes of a lump in palm of hand include:

• Lipoma: Soft fatty lump inside palm of hand beneath the skin
• Callus: Thickened skin from repeated friction or pressure
• Warts: Rough viral skin growths
• Epidermal Inclusion Cyst: Keratin-filled benign cyst
• Giant Cell Tumor Of Tendon Sheath: Slow-growing tendon lining tumor
• Rheumatoid Nodules: Firm palm lumps linked with rheumatoid arthritis
• Nerve Tumors: Such as neurofibroma, schwannoma or neuroma, which may cause tingling or burning sensations

Diagnosing A Lump In Hand Palm

A doctor will usually diagnose the cause of a lump in the palm of the hand through a combination of medical history, physical examination and imaging tests.

During the examination, your doctor will assess:

• The size, shape and texture of the palm lump
• Whether it is fixed or mobile
• Any tenderness or pain
• Finger range of movement and grip strength
• Signs of nerve involvement such as tingling or numbness

They will also ask questions about:

• How long the palm lump has been present
• Whether it is changing size
• Any history of hand injury or repetitive use
• Associated symptoms such as clicking, locking or stiffness
• Any underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis

Investigations

Additional tests are not always necessary with a lump in the palm of the hand, but they may be recommended if the diagnosis is unclear, the lump is rapidly enlarging or symptoms are affecting hand function.

Common investigations for a lump on the palm of the hand include:

• Ultrasound: Helps identify cysts, tendon problems and soft tissue masses
• MRI Scan: Provides detailed images of deeper structures including tendons, nerves and tumors
• X-Rays: Useful if arthritis or bone involvement is suspected
• Biopsy: Occasionally needed to confirm the diagnosis or rule out rare tumors

When To Seek Medical Advice

Most palm lumps are benign and harmless, however you should seek medical attention if:

• The palm lump grows rapidly
• There is significant or worsening pain
• You develop numbness or weakness
• Finger movement becomes restricted
• The lump changes colour, shape or texture

Differential Diagnosis

Because many palm lumps can appear similar, doctors often consider several possible diagnoses before confirming the cause.

Differential Diagnosis of Lump In Palm Of Hand

Lump On Palm Of Hand Diagnosis Chart
Condition	Texture	Location	Pain	Mobility	Further Info
Dupuytren’s Contracture	Firm nodules/cords	Base of ring/little finger	Usually painless	Fixed	May pull fingers into flexion
Ganglion Cyst	Soft-rubbery	Near joints/tendon sheaths	Mild ache possible	Slightly moveable	May change size over time
Trigger Finger	Small firm nodule	Base of finger	Often tender	Moves with tendon	Clicking or locking common
Lipoma	Soft, doughy	Beneath skin	Painless	Freely moveable	Slow-growing fatty lump
Callus	Rough, thickened skin	Pressure areas	Tender with pressure	Fixed to skin	Common with manual work
Wart	Rough surface	Superficial skin	Sometimes tender	Fixed	Caused by HPV
Epidermal Inclusion Cyst	Firm, smooth	Under skin	Tender if inflamed	Slightly moveable	Filled with keratin
Giant Cell Tumor	Firm	Along tendon sheath	Usually painless	Limited mobility	Benign slow-growing tumor
Rheumatoid Nodules	Firm	Pressure/tendon areas	Painless if not inflamed	Fixed	Linked with rheumatoid arthritis
Nerve Tumors	Firm-rubbery	Along nerves	Burning/tingling	Variable	Includes neuroma/ schwannoma

Using Symptoms To Identify The Cause

The feel and location of a lump in the palm of the hand can provide useful clues about the likely cause.

• Small Lump In Hand Palm: Often linked with trigger finger, early Dupuytren’s contracture or small ganglion cysts. Tenderness and clicking suggest trigger finger, while painless nodules are more typical of early Dupuytren’s
  
  
• Hard Lump In Palm: Common causes include Dupuytren’s contracture, giant cell tumour of tendon sheath, rheumatoid nodules or callus. Hard, slowly developing lumps that begin to tighten the fingers are particularly suggestive of Dupuytren’s
  
  
• Soft Lump In Palm: Usually due to a ganglion cyst, lipoma or epidermal inclusion cyst. Soft, movable lumps are usually benign and sit just under the skin
  
  
• Lump In Middle Of Palm: May be due to ganglion cyst, lipoma or tendon sheath tumour. Soft, mobile lumps are more likely to be cysts or lipomas, while firm fixed lumps often involve tendons
  
  
• Painful Lump On Palm: Painful palm lumps are often linked with trigger finger, inflamed cysts or giant cell tumour of tendon sheath. Pain that worsens with gripping or finger movement often suggests a tendon-related cause, particularly trigger finger

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Treatment For Palm Lumps

Treatment for a lump in the palm of the hand depends on the underlying cause and severity of symptoms, but most cases can be treated successfully at home.

1. Observation

In many cases, no immediate treatment is required. If the lump is small, painless and not affecting hand function, a “watch and wait” approach may be recommended. Regular monitoring is important to ensure the lump is not increasing in size, becoming painful or affecting movement.

2. Self-Care

Self-care is often the first step and may include avoiding repetitive gripping activities, using padded gloves during manual tasks, resting from aggravating activities and applying an ice pack if the lump becomes inflamed or painful.

3. Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications may be used to help reduce pain and swelling. Steroid injections may be recommended, particularly for trigger finger or inflamed cysts that are not improving with conservative care.

5. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help maintain or improve hand flexibility, strength and function. Targeted stretching and mobility exercises may be useful for conditions such as Dupuytren’s contracture or trigger finger, helping to reduce stiffness and maintain range of motion.

6. Procedures & Surgery

Some palm lumps may require medical procedures, including:

• Aspiration of ganglion cysts
• Needle aponeurotomy for Dupuytren’s contracture
• Surgical release for trigger finger
• Surgical excision of cysts or tumors

FAQs: Lump In Palm Of Hand

Final Summary

A lump in palm of hand can develop for many different reasons, ranging from harmless skin thickening to tendon, nerve or connective tissue disorders.
The most common causes of palm lumps are Dupuytren’s contracture, ganglion cysts and trigger finger.

While many hand lumps are benign, it is important to have any persistent, painful or enlarging lump assessed properly, especially if it affects hand movement or causes numbness.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent progression and improve long-term hand function.

You may also be interested in the following articles:

• Lump On Back Of Hand
• Pain In Palm Of Hand
• Finger Pain
• Wrist Lumps
• Wrist Fractures

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Page Last Updated: May 21st, 2026
Next Review Due: May 21st, 2028

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