Tenosynovial giant cell tumor involving the cervical spine: A case report

BACKGROUND Tenosynovial giant cell tumors(TGCTs)are a frequent benign proliferative disease originating from the synovial membrane.However,TGCTs rarely occur in the spine.The purpose of this paper is to report a case of TGCT occurring in the cervical spine.Although the disease is rare,it is essential to consider the possibility of TGCT in axial skeletal lesions.Awareness of spinal TGCTs is important because their characteristics are similar to common spinal tumor lesions.CASE SUMMARY A 49-year-old man with a 2-year history of neck pain and weakness in both lower extremities was referred to our ward.Imaging revealed a mass extending from the left epidural space to the C4-5 paravertebral muscles with uneven enhancement.The tumor originated in the synovium of the C4-5 lesser joint and eroded mainly the C4-5 vertebral arch and spine.Puncture biopsy was suggestive of a giant cellrich lesion.The patient had pulmonary tuberculosis,and we first administered anti-tuberculosis treatment.After the preoperative requirements of the antituberculosis treatment were met,we used a posterior cervical approach to completely remove the mass after fixation with eight pedicle screws.The mass was identified as a TGCT by postoperative immunohistochemical analysis.Recurrence was not detected after 1 year of follow-up.CONCLUSION Spinal TGCTs are often misdiagnosed.The radiological changes are not specific.The ideal treatment comprises complete excision with proper internal fixation,which can significantly reduce postoperative recurrence.

Diagnosis and treatment of primary diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumors of the cervical spine

Diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor （D-TGCT） belongs to a group of lesions believed to arise from tendon sheaths,bursae,or the synovium of diarthrodial joints.The etiology of D-TGCT is unknown.Because it shares histological characteristics with pigmented villonodular synovitis,however,D-TGCT is also termed extra-articular pigmented villonodular synovitis.D-TGCT,which occurs mainly in middle-aged women （20-50 years of age1）,usually involves large load-bearing joints （e.g.,knee,ankle,and hip）.Clinical case reports of D-TGCT involving the spine are rare.2 We retrospectively analyzed a series of three patients diagnosed with cervical D-TGCT in our department over a 10-year period.

Malignant giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath of the right hip:A case report

BACKGROUND Malignant giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath(MGCTTS)is an extremely rare malignant tumor originating from synovial and tendon sheath tissue with highly aggressive biological behavior and a high rate of local recurrence and distant metastasis which should be considered a highly malignant sarcoma and managed aggressively.How to systemically treat MGCTTS remains a challenge.In this case,a patient with MGCTTS suffered a recurrence after 2 surgical resections received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy,but the treatment outcome remained poor.More clinical trials and better understanding of the biology and molecular aspects of this subtype of sarcoma are needed while novel medicines should be developed to efficiently target particular pathways.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old man presented with persistent dull pain in the right groin accompanied by limited right hip motion starting 6 mo ago.Two months before his attending to hospital,the patient’s pain worsened,presenting as severe pain when standing or walking,limping,and inability to straighten or move the right lower extremity.Surgical excision was performed and MGCTTS was confirmed by pathology examination.Two recurrences occurred after surgical resection,moreover,the treatment outcome remained poor after adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy.The patient died only 10 mo after the initial diagnosis.CONCLUSION MGCTTS is characterized by a joint mass with pain and limited motion.It typically grows along the tendons and infiltrated into the surrounding muscle and bone tissue,with a stubborn tendency to relapse,as well as pulmonary metastasis.Radically surgical resection provides a choice of treatment whereas post-operation care should be taken to preserve the function of the joint.Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used as alternative treatments when radical resection cannot be performed.

Subtalar joint pigmented villonodular synovitis misdiagnosed at the first visit:A case report

BACKGROUND Pigmented villonodular synovitis(PVNS)is an uncommon disease that usually occurs in large joints,and involvement of the subtalar joint is rare.The lack of comprehensive knowledge of subtalar joint PVNS could lead to misdiagnosis.CASE SUMMARY We present a 64-year-old woman who,at her first visit,complained of discomfort in the right ankle when she walked.Based on the physical signs and X-ray report,the physician failed to make the suspected diagnosis of PVNS.Eighteen months later,the patient returned with a complaint of a mass in her right lateral malleolus with intermittent blunt pain.The X-ray presented an osteophyte formation and soft tissue calcification at the margin of the subtalar joint.The laboratory tests were normal,whereas magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)showed a low-intensity area on both T1-and T2-weighted images.A suspected diagnosis of PVNS was made and later confirmed by postoperative pathology.Subsequently,the patient received radiotherapy with 32 Gy in 16 fractions.At 6 mo postoperatively,the patient only complained of discomfort after walking three blocks.The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot score was 97.CONCLUSION MRI is necessary for the diagnosis of PVNS.Early soft tissue calcification and painless joint swelling should be of concern.