Pigmented villonodular synovitis: a retrospective multicenter study of 237 cases

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Oncology

Background:

• Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare, benign neoplastic proliferation of the synovium.
• Understanding its clinical characteristics is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical characteristics of pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) in a large Chinese cohort.
• To identify demographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors associated with PVNS.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of electronic medical records (EMR) from four Chinese institutes.
• Inclusion criteria: histologically proven PVNS between January 2005 and February 2014.
• Data collected: demographics, clinical presentation, affected sites, duration, comorbidities, treatment, recurrence, and laboratory results.

Main Results:

• 237 patients with PVNS were analyzed, showing a female predominance (136 females vs. 101 males).
• The average age at diagnosis was 36 years, with a median delay of 18 months from symptom onset.
• The knee (73.84%) and hip (18.14%) were the most commonly affected joints. Recurrence was observed in 48 patients (20.25%), with higher rates after knee surgery.
• Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were noted in some patients.

Conclusions:

• PVNS predominantly affects women aged 20-40, with a predilection for the knee and hip.
• Recurrence is frequent, especially in the knee, and may be associated with surgical approach.
• The study supports a potential link between PVNS and orthopedic surgery, including non-joint replacement procedures.