Pigmented villonodular synovitis about the ankle: a review of the literature and presentation in 10 athletic patients

Abstract

Background: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is relatively uncommon. The disorder results in increased proliferation of synovium causing villous or nodular changes of synovial-lined joints, bursae and tendon sheaths. This study examines the occurrence of PVNS about the ankle and its association with trauma.

Methods: Ten patients over a 10-year period were identified as having PVNS of the ankle. The average age was 40.2 (range 27 to 62) years. There were four women and six men. Average followup was 4.5 (range 1 to 11) years from the initial surgery. Four patients had bone involvement. All patients who were athletically active before symptoms arose complained of persistent pain and swelling in the lateral ankle. Their initial clinical symptoms were indistinguishable from commonly associated pathologies with persistent lateral ankle pain (i.e. tenosynovitis, osteochondral defects, os trigonum injury, and tendon tears). All patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealing PVNS, which is represented by low-signal appearing masses on T1- and T2-weighted images. All patients' histopathology results revealed multinucleated giant cells and foam cells laden with hemosiderin deposits. All patients had synovectomy and tenosynovectomy.

Results: Eight patients were able to return to some sports (range 4 to 12 months); two had continued pain, disability, and inability to return to sports because of recurrence.

Conclusions: PVNS should be considered in athletically active patients with persistent lateral ankle pain and swelling, particularly if bone erosions are visible on plain radiographs.