Giant Cell Tumors in the Patellar Tendon Area

ABSTRACT

Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath is a benign tumor typically presenting as a nontender mass around the hand and wrist. Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath in large joints is typically larger and shows higher rates of local recurrence, as well as common features with pigmented villonodular synovitis. We describe two cases of giant cell tumors in the patellar tendon area that were treated successfully with arthroscopically assisted complete excision. Orthopedic surgeons must be aware of this entity to prevent unnecessary adjuvant therapy or recurrent excision.

KEYWORDS

Giant cell tumor - patellar tendon - knee

REFERENCES

• 1 Kramer D E, Frassica F J, Frassica D A, Cosgarea A J. Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee: diagnosis and treatment.  J Knee Surg. 2009;  22 243-254
• 2 Ushijima M, Hashimoto H, Tsuneyoshi M, Enjoji M. Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (nodular tenosynovitis). A study of 207 cases to compare the large joint group with the common digit group.  Cancer. 1986;  57 875-884
• 3 Lu K H. Arthroscopic excision of juxta-articular giant-cell tumor arising from the patellar tendon sheath.  Arthroscopy. 2004;  20 eE35-eE38
• 4 Relwani J, Factor D, Khan F, Dutta A. Giant cell tumour of the patellar tendon sheath—an unusual cause of anterior knee pain: a case report.  Knee. 2003;  10 145-148
• 5 Napier R, McCormack J. Giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath - an unusual cause for locking of the knee joint.  Ulster Med J. 2008;  77 130
• 6 Khanduja V, Dannawi Z, Ng L, El-Zebdeh M. Giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath arising from the patellar tendon.  J Knee Surg. 2004;  17 28-29
• 7 Papagelopoulos P J, Mavrogenis A F, Savvidou O D, Chloros G D, Mitsiokapa E A, Papaparaskeva K T. Tendosynovial giant cell tumor of the patellar tendon sheath.  Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2005;  15 74-76
• 8 Hepp P, Engel T, Marquass B, Aigner T, Josten C, Niederhagen M. Infiltration of the pes anserinus complex by an extraarticular diffuse-type giant cell tumor (D-TGCT).  Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2008;  128 155-158
• 9 Jelinek J S, Kransdorf M J, Shmookler B M, Aboulafia A A, Malawer M M. Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath: MR findings in nine cases.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1994;  162 919-922
• 10 Maheshwari A V, Muro-Cacho C A, Pitcher Jr J D. Pigmented villonodular bursitis/diffuse giant cell tumor of the pes anserine bursa: a report of two cases and review of literature.  Knee. 2007;  14 402-407
• 11 Ly J Q, Carlson C L, LaGatta L M, Beall D P. Giant cell tumor of the peroneus tendon sheath.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;  180 1442
• 12 Vogrincic G S, O'Connell J X, Gilks C B. Giant cell tumor of tendon sheath is a polyclonal cellular proliferation.  Hum Pathol. 1997;  28 815-819
• 13 Kitagawa Y, Ito H, Amano Y, Sawaizumi T, Takeuchi T. MR imaging for preoperative diagnosis and assessment of local tumor extent on localized giant cell tumor of tendon sheath.  Skeletal Radiol. 2003;  32 633-638
• 14 Kotwal P P, Gupta V, Malhotra R. Giant-cell tumour of the tendon sheath. Is radiotherapy indicated to prevent recurrence after surgery?.  J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2000;  82 571-573
• 15 Chae D J, Shetty G M, Kang K H, Kim J H, Nha K W. Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis of the posterior capsule of the knee.  J Knee Surg. 2009;  22 267-269