Objective: Giant cell tumors of tendon sheath (GCTTS) are the most common soft tissue tumors of the hand after ganglion cysts. Some other areas such as the foot, ankle, knee and thigh can also be involved. The recurrence rates up to 44% have been reported. This study evaluated the clinical results of GCTTS patients who underwent marginal resection and investigate any clinical or histopathological features that might be associated with recurrence.
Methods: Thirty patients who underwent surgical excision between 2011 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical, pathological and radiological examination results were collected from the patient files. The variables including tumor localization, tumor subtype, bone erosion and the presence of mitotic figures were analyzed for a possible association with recurrence.
Results: Amongst 30 patients who were treated surgically due to GCTTS, twenty-one patients were female (70%) and 9 were male (30%). The mean age was 40 [standard deviation (SD): ±14.4, range: 18-68 years]. The average follow-up period was 51 months (SD: ±29.2, range: 16-177 months). Histopathologically, 23 cases were identified as nodular type, 7 as diffuse type. In 8 patients, postoperative recurrence was observed. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with preoperative bone erosion (p=0.015), while other variables including histopathological type, presence of mitotic figures and tumor localization did not significantly affect the recurrence rate. None of the patients experienced a malignant transformation.
Conclusion: Bone erosion at the time of presentation was found to be a risk factor for recurrence in GCTTSs. The presence of mitotic figures, histopathological type and tumor localization was not associated with recurrence.