Clinical and Radiologic Features of Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Foot

Pigmented villonodular synovitis, a rare proliferative disease of unknown etiology, is rare in the foot (2% of these lesions). A retrospective review was undertaken of the case histories, radiographs, and imaging results of eight patients treated for pigmented villonodular synovitis of the foot. Pigmented villonodular synovitis was located in the rearfoot in five patients and in the forefoot in the other three. Radiographs in six patients showed bone involvement. Affected bones included the talus, first cuneiform, first and fifth metatarsals, and second phalanx. Treatment was surgical, and only one recurrence was recorded after 24 months. Pigmented villonodular synovitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of foot tumors. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 97(5): 415–419, 2007)