Received 22 November 2015; accepted 26 January 2016; published 29 January 2016

1. Introduction

Tenosynovitis is a rare lesion, typically monoarthric, which primarily affects the major joints. Chassaignac was first to describe the lesion in 1852 [1] , but it was Jaffe et al. in 1941 [2] who first introduced the term pigmented villonodular tenosynovitis. Jaffe revealed that various lesions of hand and joint with their differing gross morphologies are variants of the same disorder. PVNS usually presents as preauricular mass with locally destructive features which may lead to incorrect diagnosis of parotid tumor. The lesion arising in temporomandibular joint is exceedingly rare with only few cases having being reported in literature so far. Although, it is histologically benign, it can be locally aggressive, capable of extensive bone destruction. CT scan is helpful in defining the extent of bone erosion, while MRI is considered the best imaging modality especially during post-operative follow up which is recommended for a period of seven to eight years [3] . Due to the aggressive behavior of this lesion, the 40% - 60% incidence of recurrence aggressive surgical resection with long term follow up with imaging is necessary. Herein, we report a rare case of PVNS presenting as aural mass with local destruction of temoromandibular joint and mastoid.

2. Case Report

A 35 years old male presented with pain and decreased hearing in the right ear of 6 months duration. The examination of the right ear showed mass filling whole of external auditory canal. Patient did not have any facial swelling or facial weakness. Pure tone audiometry showed 45 db conductive hearing loss in right ear. Contrast enhanced CT scan showed soft tissue density occupying the right external auditory canal and bulging into the middle ear cavity, displacing the intact ossicular chain medially. There was evidence of destruction of the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, glenoid fossa, mastoid bone and the scutum. The squamous part of the right temporal bone showed evidence of lateral bowing with discontinuity. There was complete destruction of anterior wall of external auditory canal. However the mandibular condyle seemed uninvolved (Figure 1).

Based on these finding, patient underwent post aural mastoid exploration under general anaesthesia. Dirty brown tumor was seen involving the superior canal wall, glenoid fossa, mastoid bone and middle ear, which were cleared. Superiorly and posteriorly, the involved part of the squamous temporal bone was removed till the normal healthy bone and middle fossa dura was encountered. Histopathological examination revealed multiple osteoclastic multinucleated giant cells in a fibro connective stroma (Figure 2(a)). Histiocytes, which were hemosiderin laden, stained positive for CD 68 (Figure 2(b)).

Post-operative CT scan showed granulations in the external auditory canal and the middle ear cavity. Patient was followed up with serial MRIs done at 3 months, 6 months and one year postoperatively, which did not show any change and clinically the mastoid cavity is well healed without any sign of pathology.

3. Discussion

In 1941, Jaffe et al. defined pigmented villonodular synovitis, bursitis and tenosynovitis as yellow-brown villous or nodular, tumor like lesions containing closely compacted polyhedral cells, multinucleated giant cells, lipoid cells and hemosiderin containing cells [2] . It primarily affects the major joint and 80% lesions are located in the knee. Other sites include hip, ankle, foot, hand, elbow and shoulder. PVNS of temporomandibular joint is rare [4] .

These lesions can be classified as localized and diffuse type. Diffuse type has widespread involvement of sy- novium. The disease is twice more common in females as compared to males. The etiology is not clear. Jaffe proposed an inflammatory etiology. Other proposed etiologies are trauma, neoplasm [5] and abnormal lipid metabolism. Several chromosomal abnormalities have been reported to be associated with PVNS. Fletcher et al. [6] used FISH to demonstrate trisomy 7 in both cultured and uncultured PVNS cells. However other diseases like osteoarthritis, hemorrhagic synovitis and rheumatoid arthritis may contain cells with trisomy 7.

Lapayowker et al. [7] first reported 2 cases of PVNS in temporomandibular joint in 1973. PVNS usually pre- sents as painless slow growing pre-auricular mass. Other common symptoms include pain and or swelling in temporomandibular joint, trismus, hearing loss and facial paresis. Our case presented with pain and unilateral decreased hearing. FNAC is a useful method to establish a diagnosis in cases presenting as pre-auricular facial swelling.

CT scan clearly showed areas of bone erosion and surgical resection was done till what appeared to be normal bone. This would classify the case as diffuse type tenosynovitis. CT scan defines the extent of the tumor because it has lower attenuation values than the surrounding muscles and CT scan also enhances the thickened synovium. PVNS typically demonstrate low signal intensity because of the presence of hemosiderin. The histopathology reports share the same features as that reported in the literature with CD 68 positivity on immunohistochemistry. On microscopy, PVNS is characterized by the presence of hemosiderin-laden, multinucleated, giant cells. In addition lipid-laden macrophages, fibroblasts and other large polyhedral-shaped mononuclear cells are present, they have abundant cytoplasm and possess oval nuclei. Hemosiderin is also found within the surrounding tissues. The ubiquitous presence of hemosiderin lends the tissue a characteristic pigmented appearance. The lesions tend to be hypervascular and demonstrate synovial hyperplasia.

The differential diagnosis of this lesion includes giant cell reparative granuloma, giant cell tumor, and chondroblastoma. Histopathologically, giant cell reparative granuloma has perivascular hemorrhage with clustering of giant cells around the hemosiderin deposition, whereas in giant cell tumor, there is usually uniform distribution of giant cells and hemosiderin deposits are rare. The background stroma of giant cell tumor granuloma consists of fibroblast like, tapered spindle cells and dense scar like collagen compared with the usual plump, oval cells in giant cell tumor [8] .

Immunohistochemistry differentiates the PVNS from chondroblastoma as PVNS is CD68 positive and chondroblastoma is S-100 positive [6] .

The aggressive resection has been advocated in previous literature with long term radiological follow up with MRI. The recurrence rate has been reported ranging from 40% to 60% in cases of extra articular PVNS [8] . Radiotherapy is generally reserved for recurrent or incompletely resectable disease.

O’ Sullivan et al reported 41 patients with PVNS of the knee treated with RT and recommended gross total resection followed by moderate-dose RT [9] .

Blanco et al. conducted a prospective study on 22 patients with previously untreated diffuse PVNS of the knee treated with combined partial arthroscopic synovectomy and RT and reported a improvement in symptoms of joint stiffness and pain in 86% of cases [10] .

4. Conclusion

Giant cell tenosynovitis of temporomandibular joint is a rare entity that may present as a destructive lesion. The treatment is an aggressive surgical resection of the disease and due to its high recurrence rate, regular follow up with imaging is mandatory.

NOTES

^*Corresponding author.