Unmasking an Incidental Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor on Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography in a Melanoma Patient

Amera Sadija¹, Sejla Ceric¹^,² , Timur Ceric²,³

1 Clinic for N uclear Medicine, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 Clinic for Oncology, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Corresponding Author: Amera Sadija MD. Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo.
E-mail: amera0206@yahoo.com; Phone: +387 33 298 485; ORCID ID 0000-0002-5424-4671.

Cite this article: Sadija A, Ceric S, Ceric T. Unmasking an Incidental Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor on Fluorodeoxyglucose
Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography in a Melanoma Patient. Sar Med J. 2025; 2(1): Online ahead of print. 10.70119/0029-25

Pages: 69 – 72 / Published online: 14 May 2025

Original submission: 22 February 2025; Revised submission: 10 April 2025; Accepted: 26 April 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a benign, yet metabolically active tumor affecting the synovium, bursa, or tendon sheath.
Aim: The purpose of the current case report is to evaluate the importance of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography / computed tomography in diagnosis of extra osseous soft tissue lesion.
Case report: We present a 48-year-old male with malignant melanoma undergoing fl uorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography / computed tomography surveillance. A highly fl uorodeoxyglucose-avid mass in the right foot raised concern for melanoma metastasis. However, biopsy revealed an unexpected diagnosis of TGCT.
Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of fl uoro deoxyglucose positron emission tomography / computed tomography in diagnosis of extra osseous lesions, particularly in cancer patients. In such scenarios, considering alternative diagnosis and pathohistological diagnosis confi rmation become crucial to avoid misdiagnosis of metastases.

Keywords: positron emission tomography / computed tomography, giant cell tumor, melanoma.