Can PVNS be misdiagnosed?

Since PVNS can mimic many other disease pathologies and often gets misdiagnosed, it may be necessary for patients to seek providers from multiple specialties to come up with the best diagnostic and treatment plan.

Is PVNS serious?

The mass or tumor that results from this overgrowth is not cancerous and does not spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body. However, PVNS is a progressive disease. It slowly worsens and can lead to bone damage and arthritis. PVNS usually affects the knee, although it can affect other joints as well.

How painful is PVNS?

In 80% of cases, this will be one of the knee joints. It can also affect your hips, shoulders, elbows, ankles, hands, feet, and—most rarely—your jaw. PVNS can be very painful and can interfere with your daily life. In most cases, surgery is required to help relieve your symptoms.

Can PVNS be malignant?

Malignant pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) (or malignant giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (GCTTS) is an extremely rare condition defined as a malignant lesion occurring with concomitant or previously documented PVNS at the same site. To date, only less than 20 cases have been reported in English literatures.

What does PVNS feel like?

If you have PVNS, you’ll notice swelling and stiffness in a joint, most often your knee. The joint may hurt. You may have a “popping” feeling when you move the joint. The symptoms usually appear gradually and may come and go over time.

What are the symptoms of PVNS?

What are the signs and symptoms of PVNS?

• swelling of a joint.
• joint effusion in the joint, which is a build-up of fluid which is usually bloody.
• aches and pain in the area affected.
• some people start limping and find it difficult to use the limb affected if the problem is with the leg, arm, hand or foot.

How long does it take to recover from PVNS surgery?

How long does it take to recover from PVNS surgery? An individual can expect recovery to take a minimum of six weeks; a full recovery may take several months depending on the severity of PVNS disease. Physical therapy is important to regain mobility and strength in surrounding muscles.

Can PVNS go away?

The best way to treat PVNS is to remove the lining of the joint. This can be done with traditional surgery or with arthroscopy. In arthroscopy, the doctor makes a tiny cut in the skin over your joint. Then a thin tube is put into the joint to remove the lining.

Can PVNS be cured?

PVNS usually has a good outcome because it is usually not considered an aggressive tumor. It is sometimes completely cured through surgery, although it recurs in about half of all cases.

Is PVNS an autoimmune disease?

Pigmented villonodular synovitis is a rare disease of unknown etiology mostly affecting the knee and foot. Until now an association with autoimmune diseases has not been reported.

Is PVNS a tumor?

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a type of benign (non-cancerous) tumor that arises from the soft connective tissue of joints. Any joint can be affected, although the tumor is most commonly found in the knee or hip joint. Although it can be painful, PVNS usually does not spread.