synovial sarcoma
syn·o·vi·al sar·co·ma
synovial sarcoma
A mesenchymal spindle cell tumour which comprises ±10% of all soft-tissue sarcomas. It is most common in young (age 20 to 40) males, and occurs most commonly around the large joints—knee, ankle, foot, 60% in the legs, 23% in upper extremity. However, it can go any place, as cases have been reported in the penis, lung, vulva, abdominal wall, etc.Prognosis
50% 5-year survival; extensively calcified synovial sarcomas have a higher (84%) 5-year survival; 40% metastasise to lungs, bone-regional nodes.
Good prognostic factors
Children; < 5cm; <10 mitoses/10hpf; no necrosis; complete excision in first attempt.
Adverse prognosticators
Older age, larger size (especially, > 35 cm), necrosis, vascular invasion, high Ki-67 index, high-grade nuclei, poorly differentiated areas, known recurrence.
Synovial sarcoma, histologic types
Biphasic
• Distinct epithelial and spindle cell components.
DiffDx
Mesothelioma, carcinosarcoma.
Monophasic
DiffDx, Spindle cell type
Malignant peripheral-nerve sheath tumour, schwanoma, solitary fibrous tumour, fasciitis.
DiffDx, Glandular cell type
Any adenocarcinoma.
Poorly differentiated
DiffDx
Ewing sarcoma and other small round cell tumours.