PIGMENTED VILLONODULAR SYNOVITIS IN A NIGERIAN TEENAGER

PIGMENTED VILLONODULAR SYNOVITIS

Abstract

Abstract
Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare benign soft tissue proliferative tumor of the synovium. It is generally rare in all age groups but rarer in children than in adults. The few reports available in children to the best of our knowledge, were from non-African populations as there are no documented reports in native African children. Thus, we report the first case of PVNS in an African teenage child. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy with 5 month history of gradual onset of non-traumatic left knee swelling and subsequent mechanical knee joint pain.
On presentation he had a swollen, warm and tender left knee joint. Knee arthrocentesis yielded haemorrhagic fluid while MRI as well as ultrasound of the knee showed features in keeping with PVNS. He had significant improvement in pain and swelling after administration of intra-articular methylprednisolone and oral Ibuprofen. We therefore suggest that PVNS should be considered in a differential diagnosis of non-traumatic joint pain or joint swelling in children.