Malignant Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor: The True “Synovial Sarcoma?” A Clinicopathologic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Cytogenetic Study of 10 Cases, Supporting Origin from Synoviocytes

We present our experience with ten well-characterized malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumors, including detailed immunohistochemical analysis of all cases and molecular cytogenetic study for CSF1 rearrangement in a subset. Cases occurred in 7 M and 3 F (mean age: 52 years; range: 26–72 years), and involved the ankle/foot ( n = 1), finger/toe ( n = 3), wrist ( n = 1), pelvic region ( n = 3), leg ( n = 1), and thigh ( n = 1). There were eight primary and two secondary malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumors. Histologically, all cases showed definite areas of typical tenosynovial giant cell tumor. The malignant areas varied in appearance. In some cases, isolated malignant-appearing large mononuclear cells with high nuclear grade and mitotic activity were identified within otherwise-typical tenosynovial giant cell tumor, as well as forming larger masses of similar-appearing malignant cells. Occasionally, these nodules of malignant large mononuclear cells showed transition to pleomorphic spindle cell sarcoma, with varying degrees of collagenization and myxoid change. One malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumor was composed of sheets of monotonous large mononuclear cells with high nuclear grade, growing in a hyalinized, osteoid-like matrix, with areas of heterologous osteocartilaginous differentiation. Mitotic activity ranged from 2 to 34 mitoses per 10 HPF (mean 18/10 HPF). Geographic necrosis was observed in four cases. The malignant-appearing large mononuclear cells were consistently positive for clusterin and negative for CD163, CD68, and CD11c. Desmin was positive in a small minority of these cells. Areas in malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumor resembling pleomorphic spindle cell sarcoma or osteo/chondrosarcoma showed loss of clusterin expression. RANKL immunohistochemistry was positive in the large mononuclear cells in eight cases. Two cases showed an unbalanced rearrangement of the CSF1 locus. Follow-up (nine patients; range 0.5–66 months; mean 20 months) showed three patients dead of disease, with three other living patients having lung and lymph node metastases; three patients were disease-free. We conclude that malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumors are highly aggressive sarcomas with significant potential for locally destructive growth, distant metastases, and death from disease. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features of these tumors and the presence of CSF1 rearrangements support origin of malignant tenosynovial giant cell tumor from synoviocytes.