Imaging characteristics of tenosynovial giant cell tumors on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography: a retrospective observational study

Abstract Background 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) is useful for assessing location, metastasis, staging, and recurrence of malignant tumors. Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TSGCT) is a benign tumor; however, some studies have reported that TSGCTs have a high uptake of FDG. Few studies have reported on the detailed evaluation of TSGCT using 18F-FDG-PET/CT. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the image characteristics and locations, particularly where possible, with or without, extra-articular invasion from TSGCT of the knee in 18F-FDG-PET/CT could occur. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the patients with TSGCT who were diagnosed pathologically either by biopsy or surgical specimen. Furthermore, we evaluated the difference of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) between diffused TSGCT with extra-articular invasion and TSGCT with intra-articular localization in the knee. Results The study consisted of 20 patients with TSGCT. The mean SUVmax of TSGCT was 12.0 ± 6.50. There were five patients with TSGCT arising in the knee with extra-articular invasion and six with TSGCT with intra-articular localization. The mean SUVmax of TSGCT with extra-articular invasion and those with intra-articular localization were 14.3 ± 6.00 and 5.94 ± 3.89, respectively. TSGCT with extra-articular invasion had significantly higher SUVmax than TSGCT with intra-articular localization (p