Re: PIGMENTED VILLONODULAR SYNOVITIS

[Guest guest]

I second 's advice - when Cliff was diagnosed with this we had

it checked out double fast - turned out the radiologist was wrong and

he had simple OA, but even the Canadian medical system he got fast

service when they thought this is what he had. When it turned out to

be OA - well you all know that story.

Pam

> " I had asked about the appropriateness of

> > hip resurfacing as opposed to thr - I was diagnosed with pigmented

> > villonodular synovitis last August and thr was the recommendation

> by

> > my orthopedic surgeon… "

>

>

> Hi:

>

> I am a radiologist and surface hippy (Dr. Vail 3/31/03 (L) C +

>

> It may be that this particular condition is not amenable to

> resurfacing because the treatment sometimes requires a complete

> synovectomy. (Removal of the joint lining)

> However, I am not an orthopedist and this is an uncommon condition.

> It is more common in the knee, but can occur in any

> " synovial "

> joint. It is really one of several related benign tumors of the

> joint lining. The name is old fashioned and is related to the fact

> that the stringy, folded,overgrowth of the lining tends to bleed

> minimally but repeatedly. The old blood " stains " or

> " pigments " the

> joint lining surface (to the naked eye). It has a characteristic

> appearance on MRI and arthroscopy. It is hard to diagnose on plain x-

> ray except very late in the process.

>

> Don't delay because this condition can cause a lot of bone

> destruction. Have your X-rays and MRI (I assume) and other records

> reviewed by any of the resurfacing orthopedists. Don't worry

> about

> which " brand " it is that they are using.

> If you can't have resurfacing, consider a " M-O-M " large

> ball " THR or

> one of the new ceramic THR's. Many of the advantages of

> resurfacing

> are provided by these devices.

>

> Go to 's web site www.activejoints.com

> To get the names and addresses of resurfacing orthopedists. Any of

> them can give you a good evaluation.

>

> Best wishes,

>

> (MD) in North Carolina