Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumors in the Carpal Joint

This paper examines three cases of localized-type and diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) in the carpal joint. Usually, the site of the localized-type TGCT is the finger and the site of the diffuse-type TGCT is the knee joint. TGCT is rarely found in the carpal joint. In each case, there was only swelling in the carpal joint, but no pain or disturbance in wrist motion. X-rays and Computed Tomographic (CT) scans showed bony impressions in the carpal joint. Cases 1 and 2 had both intraand extra-articular lesions. The intra-articular lesions were a diffuse-type TGCT and the extra-articular lesions were localized-type TGCT. Case 3 only had an intra-articular lesion, which was a localized-type TGCT. The tumors were completely excised under a surgical microscope. There were no recurrences at the follow-up examinations which took place one, four and five years later, because the tumors were completely excised. Although a localized-type TGCT is prominent out of the joint, a diffuse-type TGCT was carefully excised from the joint. We noticed that diffused-type TGCT often exists in a hand and finger joint lesion, and if these lesions are not excised completely, recurrence might occur.