Tenosynovial giant cell tumors aren’t cancerous, and don’t mean you have cancer. They’re always benign. Depending on how big the tumor is and where it’s in your body, you might have an increased risk for breaking bones near it. Visit your provider right away when you notice a new growth or lump.
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors are noncancerous growths that form in the soft tissue around your joints. They’re always benign tumors, which means they aren’t cancer and can’t cause it.
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors are a rare type of giant cell tumor. They usually don’t spread to other parts of your body, but they can develop and grow quickly.
Depending on where it’s growing, a tenosynovial giant cell tumor can make it hard or painful to move that part of your body. They can also lead to bone fractures by putting pressure on your bones.
You’ll probably need surgery to remove a tenosynovial giant cell tumor. Some people also need radiation therapy.
There are three types of tenosynovial giant cell tumors that grow on different types of tissue in your body, including:
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors can develop anywhere in your body, but the most common locations include your:
People who’ve had a tenosynovial giant cell tumor are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis in their affected joint.
Anyone can develop a tenosynovial giant cell tumor. They’re more common in certain groups of people, including:
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors are very rare. Fewer than 50 in every 1 million people worldwide develop tenosynovial giant cell tumors each year.
The most common symptoms of a tenosynovial giant cell tumor include:
You’ll probably also have symptoms in the joint near the tenosynovial giant cell tumor, including:
Which symptoms you experience and how severe they are depends on a few factors, including:
Lots of people experience symptoms for years before a tenosynovial giant cell tumor is diagnosed. Make sure to talk to your provider about any changes you notice in your body.
Experts aren’t sure what causes tenosynovial giant cell tumors. However, some studies have found a link between people who develop tenosynovial giant cell tumors and certain changes in their chromosomes.
Chromosomes are the central part of your cells that contain your DNA. Anything that damages your chromosomes can cause changes in your body. Specifically, experts think a translocation — what happens when some of your chromosomes break apart then reconnect in new pairs — causes tenosynovial giant cell tumors.
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors are usually removed with surgery. Your surgeon will remove the tumor with open surgery or by arthroscopy. They might also remove the affected tissue around it, too.
During arthroscopy, your surgeon will make a few tiny cuts on the outside of your body. Then they’ll insert an arthroscope (a long, thin tube with a video camera and light on the end) to see inside your joint. They’ll use small tools to excise — the medical term for remove — the tumor and any other damaged tissues.
Your surgeon will tell you which type of surgery you’ll need and what to expect. How long it takes to recover depends on:
Some tenosynovial giant cell tumors can be treated with a form of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is usually used to treat cancer. Some types of chemotherapy can target and destroy benign growths like tenosynovial giant cell tumors.
Tenosynovial giant cell tumors have a high recurrence rate. This means that even after successful surgery to remove them or chemotherapy to destroy them, there’s a good chance another tenosynovial giant cell tumor will grow back.
It’s extremely rare, but if the tumor has severely damaged your joint, you might need an amputation.
