Wegener's granulomatosis and giant cell tumor of tendon sheaths: casual or causal combination? First case report.
Giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (GCTTS) and Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) are rare conditions both characterized by polyclonal cellular proliferation and multinucleated giant cells formation. Here, we report the case of a 27-year-old Caucasian woman affected by WG who experienced the metachrone appearance of two different GCTTSs at the right hand within a time of 3 years. To our knowledge, the combination of GCTT with WG is exceptional and this could probably be the first case reported. The subsequent appearance of two rare diseases both characterized by giant cell formation apparently points to similarities in their pathogenesis. However, at present no pathogenic relationship between GCTTS and WG is demonstrable and their simultaneous occurrence has to be considered coincidental. Actually, an emerging opinion is to consider GCTTS as a mixed lesion in which both tumoral and non-tumoral inflammatory cells play a central pathogenic action. On this view, the proposed case could support the evidence about the crucial role of a chronic inflammatory injury in enhancing GCTTS appearance.
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria S.Anna, Corso della Giovecca 203, 44100, Ferrara, Italy. dlnfnc@unife.it
Francesco
F
De Leonardis
Renato
R
La Corte
Marco
M
Bruschi
Luigi
L
Cavazzini
Francesco
F
Trotta
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome