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Synovial sarcoma

Synovial sarcoma, or malignant synovioma, is a tumor lesion of the soft tissues in the joints of the legs, arms or neck. This is a fairly rare form of cancer, diagnosed at 2-3 people out of a million. Often synovial sarcoma affects people from 15 to 25 years of age and is more common among the male population.

The disease affects synovial membrane of joints, tendons. Up to half of cases synovioma develops in the leg joints, often the knee. The second most common localization of the tumor are hands. In more rare cases, a disease affecting the neck or head. A common feature for synovial cancer is the ability to recur, returning for the first three years after treatment. In half of these cases metastases into the lungs, lymph nodes and bone marrow.

The metastases of sarcoma in half of the cases, migrate and proliferate in the bone marrow, lymph nodes and lungs. There were cases of detection of metastasis in prostate, heart and brain.

Synovial sarcoma is a dangerous and rapidly progressive disease, difficult therapy. Therefore, treatment should be synovioma oncologists with extensive professional experience.

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Causes of synovial sarcoma

Significant causes of the development of synovial sarcoma is not clear. There is a scientific hypothesis that pathology associated with the phenomenon of chromosomal translocation in which there is an interaction between genes on different chromosomes, resulting in the mutant gene, provoking synovioma.


The symptoms of synovial sarcoma

Malignant synovioma in the initial stages of tumor growth are asymptomatic, which makes diagnosis and timely treatment.

The symptoms of synovial sarcoma depend on the site location and may include:

  • pain in the affected area;
  • the appearance of swollen tumor, which can be hard or soft;
  • limitation of range of motion in the joint;

  • high temperature;

  • numbness due to the pressure of tumors on the nerves;
  • fatigue, lethargy;
  • weight loss, poor appetite;
  • swollen lymph nodes in the stage of metastasis.

If sarcoma develops in the neck or in the head, there is difficulty in breathing and swallowing, often voice changes.

Diagnosis of synovial sarcoma

Signs of malignant synovioma sometimes mistakenly can be taken for some other disease:

Therefore, the diagnosis of the disease is given attention, and to obtain accurate results of the studies used a combination of tests:

  • immunological analysis of tumor tissue;
  • a biopsy is taken in which a small piece of affected tissue for detailed examination under a microscope;
  • genetic testing to identify chromosomal abnormalities;
  • angiography, or investigating the condition of blood vessels in the tumor site;
  • x-rays of the joint;
  • radioisotope scanning because cancerous tissue tends to accumulate the isotopes of strontium are inserted into the body.

Treatments

Synovial sarcoma is a serious disease and requires a combination therapy. Treatment methods are similar to those for other forms of malignant tumors:

  • surgery;
  • radiation therapy;
  • chemotherapy.

It is much easier to cure small formations that can be removed by surgery. For tumors that are passed to the stage of formation of metastasis, a single operation is not enough, in such cases use all treatment options.

Surgery is the main treatment that is indicated for synovial sarcoma. It allows you to remove the tumor in the primary location and is effective in 50-70% of cases.

Chemotherapy involves the use of chemotherapeutic drugs, this method is always shown in the presence of metastasis. The main active ingredientsdrugs – ifosfamide and doxorubicin hydrochloride, the activity of which is aimed at the destruction of cancer cells and eliminate tumors. Chemotherapy is not one hundred percent successful method of treatment of synovial sarcoma, and the result is observed only in the case sensitivity of cancer cells to drugs-cytostatics.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy can destroy cancer cells with radiation. This method can be applied:

  • immediately before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor;
  • after surgical treatment in case of detection of metastasis.

Procedures of radiation therapy are held in the radiology Department. Before treatment conducted a thorough research with the help of computer tomography and MRI to determine the exact location of the cancerous tissue. Such an approach is necessary to eliminate the maximum number of tumor cells and the optimum maintenance of healthy tissues.

To achieve the effect of treatment radiation therapy is prescribed several courses that the patient may be held for 4-6 months. Radiotherapy is carried out after surgery, significantly reduces the risk of recurrent cancers.


Forecast

The prognosis of synovial sarcoma depends on tumor size, presence of metastasis and a pathological process involving the lymph nodes. For patients with a diagnosis made early, the prognosis is good. However, those with tumors larger than 6 cmthere is a very high risk of metastasis, and if cancer spread through the body, the prognosis for cure is poor.

Early diagnosis of the disease is very important for maintaining not only health but also human life.

With each passing day the likelihood of metastasis increases, so to go to the oncologist needed in the first, even the most insignificant signs and changes in the joint.