Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor: Incidence, Prevalence, Patient Characteristics, and Recurrence. A Registry-based Cohort Study in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE

Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare benign proliferative and inflammatory disease arising from synovia of joints, bursae, or tendon sheaths. We aimed to estimate incidence rate and prevalence of TGCT in Denmark, to describe patient characteristics and treatment modalities among patients with TGCT, and to estimate risk of TGCT recurrence.

METHODS

Using registry data on pathology examinations and inpatient and outpatient hospital diagnoses, we identified adult patients with diagnoses of diffuse TGCT (D-TGCT) or localized TGCT (L-TGCT) between 1997 and 2012, followed through 2012. We described patients' characteristics, treatment modalities, and recurrence.

RESULTS

We identified 2087 patients with L-TGCT and 574 patients with D-TGCT. Their incidence rates per million person-years were 30.3 (95% CI 29.1-31.7) and 8.4 (95% CI 7.7-9.1), respectively. At the end of 2012, prevalence per 100,000 persons was 44.3 (95% CI 42.4-46.3) for L-TGCT and 11.5 (95% CI 10.6-12.6) for D-TGCT. Women made up 61% of the patients with L-TGCT and 51% of the patients with D-TGCT. Median age at diagnosis was 47 years. Ten-year risk of recurrence was 9.8% (95% CI 8.4-11.3%) after L-TGCT and 19.1% (95% CI 15.7-22.7%) after D-TGCT.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes evidence about epidemiology of TGCT based on routinely collected population-based data gathered in a setting of universal equal access to healthcare and complete followup.