Updated: 8/27/2022

Synovial Sarcoma

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https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/8052/images/Case B - axilla - xray - parsons_moved.jpg
https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/8052/images/Case B - axilla - MRI - parsons_moved.jpg
https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/8052/images/Case A - pelvis - xray - parsons_moved.jpg
https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/8052/images/Case A - pelvis - CT - parsons_moved.png
https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/8052/images/Histology B - Parsons_moved.png
https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/8052/images/synovial-sarcoma-25-sarcoma-images_moved.jpg
  • summary
    • Synovial Sarcoma is a malignant, soft tissue sarcoma caused by a t(X;18) chromosomal translocation mutation most commonly found near joints, but rarely within the joint.
    • The condition usually presents in patients between 15 and 40 years old with a growing mass in proximity to a joint.
    • Diagnosis is made with a biopsy showing a classic biphasic appearance with atypical spindle cells and epithelial cells. Immunostaining is positive for epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin. 
    • Treatment is usually wide surgical excision with radiation. 
  • Epidemiology
    • Demographics
      • most common sarcoma found in young adults (15-40 years)
      • affects more males than females
    • Anatomic location
      • it is the most common malignant sarcoma of the foot
  • Etiology
    • Mechanism
      • cellular origin of synovial sarcoma is unknown, but it is not the synovial cell or any cell involved in the synovium
        • the name synovial sarcoma is a misnomer.
    • Pathophysiology
      • metastasis
        • synovial sarcoma typically shows high histologic grade
        • metastasis may develop in 30-60% of patients
          • like other sarcomas, the lung is most common site of metastasis
          • synovial sarcoma has been shown to have similar rates of lymph node metastasis compared to other soft tissue sarcomas 
            • the sarcomas which can metastasize to lymph nodes include
              • angiosarcoma
              • clear cell sarcoma
              • rhabdomyosarcoma
              • epithelioid sarcoma
            • can stage with lymph node biopsy
              • while lymph node metastasis is a poor prognostic sign, it is not as bad as lung metastasis
        • metastasis is more common with large, deep, and high grade sarcomas
    • Genetics
      • chromosomal translocation t(X;18) is observed in more than 90% of cases
      • translocation forms the SYT-SSX1, 2, or 4 fusion protein
        • SYT-SSX4 is rare
      • SYT-SSX1 vs. SYT-SSX2
      • SYT-SSX1
      • SYT-SSX2
      • Frequency
      • More common (60% of tumors)
      • Less common (40% of tumors)
      • Histology type
      • Biphasic
      • Monophasic
      • Gender
      • M:F = 1:1
      • M:F = 1:2
      • Presentation
      • Larger, with metastases
      • Smaller, without metastases
      • Survival
      • Worse
      • Better
  • Presentation
    • Symptoms
      • typically present as a growing mass in proximity to a joint
      • may be painless or painful
      • most commonly occur in periarticular locations
        • knee, shoulder, elbow, foot
        • 60% are found in the lower extremity
    • Physical exam
      • check for regional lymphadenopathy
  • Imaging
    • Radiographs
      • can show soft tissue mineralization (calcification) in these tumors
      • may resemble heterotopic ossification
    • CT
      • can show calcification in the soft tissue mass
    • MRI
      • MRI reveals a heterogenous mass that is typically dark on T1 weighted images and bright on T2 weighted images
  • Histology
    • Characteristic findings
      • classical synovial sarcoma shows a biphasic appearance with two typical cell types
        • spindle cells (fibrous type of cells)
          • relatively small and uniform and found in sheets of malignant appearing cells with minimal cytoplasm and dark atypical nuclei
        • epithelial cells
          • gland, nest, or cyst-like cells
      • rarely, synovial sarcoma can also present with poorly differentiated or monophasic fibrous cell histology, consisting only of sheets of spindle cells
      • cellular origin of synovial sarcoma is unknown, but it is not the synovial cell or any cell involved in the synovium. The name SYNOVIAL sarcoma is a misnomer
    • Immunostaining for
      • synovial sarcoma stains positive for
        • vimentin
        • epithelial membrane antigen
        • sporadic S-100
        • epithelial cells stain positive for keratin
  • Treatment
    • Operative
      • wide surgical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy
        • indications
          • standard of care in most patients
        • technique
          • radiotherapy
            • may be delivered either pre-surgery or post-surgery
          • chemotherapy
            • data regarding chemotherapy in synovial sarcoma suggests that chemotherapy may improve both local control and overall survival
  • Prognosis
    • Overall prognosis is poor
      • 5 year survival is approximately 50%
      • 10 year survival is approximately 25%
    • SYT-SSX fusion type is most important prognostic factor 
      • SYT-SSX2 better survival

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Flashcards (7)
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Questions (21)

(OBQ18.134) A 40-year-old patient presents with a mass in the left great toe that has increased in size over the last several months. The patient denies any fevers or chills. Figure A demonstrates an AP radiograph of the left foot. Figure B is the biopsy of the lesion. Genetic analysis reveals an SYT-SSX1 fusion protein. Which of the following is true of this tumor compared to SYT-SSX2 translocation?

QID: 213030
FIGURES:

Smaller with less metastases

4%

(76/2036)

Monophasic

12%

(235/2036)

Better prognosis

31%

(633/2036)

Biphasic

40%

(822/2036)

Less common

12%

(254/2036)

L 4 A

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(OBQ15.176) Figures A through E represent histological images (low power, left; high power, right) of primary sarcomas of bone and soft tissue. Which of the following figures is characteristic of a t(X;18) translocation?

QID: 5861
FIGURES:

Figure A

7%

(125/1812)

Figure B

44%

(791/1812)

Figure C

22%

(403/1812)

Figure D

15%

(280/1812)

Figure E

11%

(197/1812)

L 4 A

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(OBQ13.17) Which of the following tumors associated with the fusion protein SYT-SSX1 can metastasize via the lymph nodes?

QID: 4652

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

3%

(133/4470)

Epitheliod sarcoma

4%

(180/4470)

Clear cell sarcoma

5%

(213/4470)

Angiosarcoma

2%

(110/4470)

Synovial sarcoma

85%

(3811/4470)

L 2 B

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(OBQ11.98) Which of the following fusion proteins is associated with synovial sarcoma?

QID: 3521

BCR-ABL

1%

(33/2660)

SYT-SSX

90%

(2391/2660)

EWS-FLI1

3%

(82/2660)

FUS-CHOP

2%

(58/2660)

COL1A1-PDGFB

3%

(80/2660)

L 1 C

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(OBQ08.236) All of the following statements regarding synovial sarcoma are correct EXCEPT?

QID: 622

Typically occur around the joints of the upper or lower limb

10%

(115/1150)

Immunohistochemisty is positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen

10%

(112/1150)

Histology is named because the cell line of origin is the type II synovial cell

63%

(722/1150)

May show biphasic or monophasic histology

8%

(91/1150)

Classic age range is the younger adult < 40 years of age

9%

(100/1150)

L 1 C

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(OBQ08.15) A 22-year-old female has a painful foot mass. Clinical photo, MRI, and histology slide are shown in Figures A through C. What is the most likely diagnosis?

QID: 401
FIGURES:

Osteosarcoma

1%

(27/2795)

Morton's neuroma

3%

(73/2795)

Synovial sarcoma

61%

(1702/2795)

Fibrous dysplasia

5%

(142/2795)

Desmoid tumor

30%

(839/2795)

L 2 C

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(OBQ05.72) Which of the following is the most common sarcoma found in the foot?

QID: 958

Epithelioid Sarcoma

11%

(383/3425)

Liposarcoma

2%

(71/3425)

Fibrosarcoma

8%

(259/3425)

Synovial sarcoma

78%

(2661/3425)

Adamantinoma

1%

(35/3425)

L 1 C

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(OBQ05.253) The chromosomal translocation t(X;18)is found in which of the following conditions?

QID: 1139

Myxoid liposarcoma

4%

(95/2130)

Synovial Sarcoma

82%

(1744/2130)

Osteosarcoma

2%

(52/2130)

Ewing's Sarcoma

7%

(149/2130)

Clear cell sarcoma

4%

(79/2130)

L 2 B

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(OBQ05.16) A 33-year-old male presents with a painful mass in his axilla. Radiographs, MRI, and histology are shown in Figures A-C. The tumor stains positive for vimentin and epithelial membrane antigen on immunohistochemistry. What is the most likely diagnosis?

QID: 53
FIGURES:

Synovial sarcoma

64%

(988/1533)

Liposarcoma

10%

(154/1533)

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma

22%

(339/1533)

Osteosarcoma

1%

(10/1533)

Chondrosarcoma

2%

(34/1533)

L 2 C

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(OBQ04.172) Which of the following histology images represents a synovial sarcoma?

QID: 1277
FIGURES:

Figure A

61%

(928/1516)

Figure B

3%

(41/1516)

Figure C

13%

(202/1516)

Figure D

9%

(136/1516)

Figure E

13%

(202/1516)

L 3 D

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