Information for Patients

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a benign intra-articular disease characterized by variable degrees of proliferative synovitis and hemosiderin deposition. The condition typically presents with a mono-articular synovial process that usually affects the adult knee during middle age, although it has been observed in the hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and spine. The classically described form of the disease primarily affects joints. Because bursae and tendon sheaths may also be affected by a condition that has histologic similarities to PVNS, controversy exists as to whether these similar conditions are variants of the disease or separate clinical entities. MRI is extremely valuable in narrowing the differential diagnosis and defining the extent of the disease. This article focuses mainly on traditional intra-articular PVNS and the benefits of surgical excision.