Giant-cell tumour of the tendon sheath in the foot and ankle.
Giant-cell tumour of the tendon sheath (GCT-TS) is a benign solitary tumour which usually arises in the limbs. It occurs most often in the hand where local recurrence after excision has been reported in up to 45% of cases. It is less common in the foot where the biological behaviour and risk of local recurrence have not been defined. We have studied 17 cases of GCT-TS of the foot and ankle in which treatment was by excision. Fifteen presented as a solitary, painless, slow-growing soft-tissue swelling. One lesion was associated with sensory deficit of a digital nerve and one with pain on walking. Thirteen cases originated from the periarticular tendon-sheath complex of the small joints of the toes and four from the capsule or long tendons of the ankle. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in only three cases. MRI proved to be the most useful preoperative investigation as GCT-TS has a characteristic appearance which allows planned local excision to be carried out. None of the patients with histologically confirmed GCT-TS required further surgery. There was no local recurrence in 15 patients who were available for follow-up at a mean of 85 months.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome