Pigmented villonodular synovitis

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is an unusual condition of the lining inside the knee joint, where the synovial cells are abnormally laden with a brown pigment.

Microscopic view of a piece of tissue showing the blobs of darker pigmentation between the pinker but overgrown synovial tissue.