Pigmented villonodular synovitis

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare, strongly proliferative disease of the lining of thejoint, synovial bursa and tendon (synovial) sheath. If left untreated, it leads to severe destruction of the joint resulting in an early need for endoprosthetic replacement. The clinical signs are unspecific. Using the diagnostic gold standard MRI, the complete extent of PVNS can usually be determined non-invasively. Once histological confirmation has been obtained, radical tumor resection, synovectomy, possibly curettage, and postoperative irradiation must be applied.