Diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor around the temporomandibular joint: An entity with special radiologic and pathologic features

Publication date: Available online 29 January 2019

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Ji-Gang Wang, Jingwei Liu, Bing He, Ling Gao, Lijuan Zhang, Jihua Liu

Abstract

Purpose

Diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is rare. The present study is to summarize the clinical, radiologic and pathologic features of such tumor.

Methods

Nine cases of TGCT around the TMJ region were described. All available radiologic and pathologic documents were carefully reviewed. We tried to group these cases into three types according to the radiologic features: bone centered type, intraosseous type, and soft tissue type. We also reviewed the reported cases to better summarize the clinical characteristics.

Results

We found TGCTs around the TMJ region showed some special radiologic and pathologic features. Radiologically, the lesion could be centered in the craniofacial bone or centered in the surrounding soft tissue. Four cases belonged to the bone centered type, one case belonged to the intraosseous type, and 4 cases belonged to the soft tissue type. Pathologically, epithelioid mononuclear cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and eccentric nuclei were observed in all cases. Chondroid metaplasia was noted in 8 cases. Some areas were similar to giant cell reparative granuloma and chondroblastoma. All patients receiving complete tumor resection have no evidence of recurrence to date. Among the 93 reported cases, only 5 suffered post-operative recurrence and distant metastasis.

Conclusion

TGCTs around the TMJ region share similar radiologic and pathologic features to other tumors, which indicates it may be an special entity within a spectrum of diseases.

http://bit.ly/2B6TGAc