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TGCT: What Physicians Ought to Know

William D. Tap, MD, Chief of the Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses what physicians ought to know about tenosynovial giant cell tumors (TGCT). TGCT are a group of rare, benign tumors that involve the synovium, bursae and tendon sheath. While these tumors are benign, they can grow and cause extreme damage to the surrounding tissues. The typical treatment for TGCT is surgical removal of the tumor but other options, such as the FDA-approved CSF1R inhibitor, pexidartinib, can be effective. Joint pain, swelling, and decreased range in motion are all common symptoms of TGCT but these may be overlooked as being caused by more common conditions. Dr. Tap encourages physicians to take note of patients with these symptoms. As the diagnosis of TGCT is often made with imaging, Dr. Tap also encourages physicians to consult with radiologists and educate themselves about how TGCT presents. For example, TGCT often only presents as tumors in one joint. Thus, if multiple joints are affected by tumors, the patient may not have this disorder. Finally, Dr. Tap asserts the critical role of an orthopedic oncologist once a diagnosis has been made so he encourages physicians to get patients with TGCT in contact with one of these specialists. To learn more about TGCT, visit our TGCT Learning Center here.