Dr. Abraham on Key Considerations in the Management of TGCT

John A. Abraham, MD, FACS, founder, Orthopaedic Oncology Service, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, and attending surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgery, Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses key considerations regarding the management of tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT).

Though rare, TGCT is a disease that should be kept in mind for patients who present with symptoms such as knee pain, Abraham says.

Diagnosing TGCT is typically based on symptoms and imaging, explains Abraham. As such, relying on a patient’s history, physical, and imaging is preferred to performing broad molecular panels for nondescript symptoms.

If a patient has TGCT, surgery remains the standard treatment, Abraham says. Additionally, patients may not need to see a medical oncologist upon diagnosis, but rather may be referred to a surgeon who can perform TGCT-related surgery.

Beyond surgery, the recent approval of pexidartinib (Turalio) offers an oral treatment option for patients with symptomatic TGCT that is associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not responsive to improvement with surgery, concludes Abraham.