There’s more to TGCT than joint pain
Rebecca, patient with TGCT smiling with arms crossed
Rebecca, patient with TGCT smiling with arms crossed
Your tumor can have a lasting impact
Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare type of tumor that forms in your joint. It’s not cancerous, but it can grow quickly and can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, and difficulty moving. Even though TGCT doesn’t usually spread to other parts of your body, it can lead to permanent joint damage for some people over time.1,2
Other names for TGCT
TGCT used to be called pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) or giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCT-TS). Your doctor may use these terms when they talk about TGCT.1,3
The more I know about TGCT, the less invisible it seems to me.
– Viviane, Living with TGCT
Viviane moving while living with TGCT
Viviane moving while living with TGCT
Symptoms are caused by tumor growth
What is CSF-1?
CSF-1 stands for colony-stimulating factor-1. It is a type of signal that your cells use to attract inflammatory cells to an area of your body. CSF-1 can be a root cause of TGCT growth in your joint.5-7
Illustration showing abnormal cell and CSF-1
Illustration showing inflammatory cell accumulation associated with TGCT and CSF-1
Illustration showing tumor growth around a joint
References
1. Stacchiotti S, Dürr HR, Schaefer IM, et al. Best clinical management of tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT): a consensus paper from the community of experts. Cancer Treat Rev. 2023;112:102491. doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102491. 2. Stern S, McKenzie PF, Bernthal N, et al. Localized and diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor: real-world results from a patient observational registry. Future Oncol. 2025;21(12):1501-1510. doi:10.1080/14796694.2025.2488635. 3. Healey JH, Bernthal NM, van de Sande M. Management of tenosynovial giant cell tumor: a neoplastic and inflammatory disease. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020;4(11):e20.00028. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-20-00028. 4. Spierenburg G, Staals EL, Palmerini E, et al. Active surveillance of diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumors: a retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2024;50(2):107953. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2024.107953. 5. Spierenburg G, van der Heijden L, van Langevelde K, et al. Tenosynovial giant cell tumors (TGCT): molecular biology, drug targets and non-surgical pharmacological approaches. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2022;26:333-345. doi:10.1080/14728222.2022.2067040. 6. Tap WD, Healey JH. Role of colony-stimulating factor 1 in the neoplastic process of tenosynovial giant cell tumor. Tumour Biol. 2022;44(1):239-248. doi:10.3233/TUB-220005. 7. Riedel R, Verini C, Fuangtharnthip K, Felser B, Palma J, Occhiuzzi L. Improving resources and support for patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor. Published April 26, 2021. Accessed August 27, 2025. https://media.cancercare.org/publications/original/431-2021_TGCT.pdf. 8. van der Heijden L, Spierenburg G, Kendal JK, et al. Multimodal management of tenosynovial giant cell tumors (TGCT) in the landscape of new druggable targets. J Surg Oncol. 2023;128:478-488. doi:10.1002/jso.27410. 9. Robert M, Farese H, Miossec P. Update on tenosynovial giant cell tumor, an inflammatory arthritis with neoplastic features. Front Immunol. 2022;13:820046. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.820046. 10. Conway AP, Lim A, Schulte BC, et al. Management of tenosynovial giant cell tumor: approved and investigational therapies. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. Published online January 24, 2026. doi:10.1080/14737140.2026.2620510. 11. Xu H, Li Y, Lin N, Ye Z, Niu X. Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT): mechanisms and advances in targeted treatments. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2025;216:104951. doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.104951. 12. Chen L, Deng H, Cui H, et al. Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs. Oncotarget. 2018;9(6):7204-7218. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208