What Is Synovial Sarcoma?

Synovial sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects soft tissues in the body. These tumors are often found near joints in the arms and legs, but they can also grow in organs found in the chest and abdomen.

This article will give an overview of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for synovial sarcoma.

What Is Synovial Sarcoma?

Synovial sarcoma is part of a larger group of cancers called soft tissue sarcomas. These cancers start in soft tissues such as fat, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. The tumors most commonly occur in the leg, around the knee joint.

Synovial sarcoma is a relatively rare condition, making up only 5% to 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. In the United States, one or two out of every one million people are diagnosed with this condition.

Synovial sarcoma is a bit different than other types of cancers because it commonly occurs in teenagers and young adults. In fact, one-third of people diagnosed with this type of cancer are under the age of 30. Most other types of cancer appear in adulthood.

Symptoms

Symptoms of synovial sarcoma are often not noticeable early on. These tumors are typically slow growing, and symptoms can go unnoticed for years before a diagnosis is made. As the tumor grows, the first thing a person might notice is swelling or a lump in the area of the cancer.

If the tumor is pressing on a nerve, pain can be the first sign of this condition. Because synovial sarcoma often grows near joints, a person might also experience a loss of range of motion as the tumor prevents the bones from moving freely.

Causes

The exact cause of synovial sarcoma is unknown. However, there are certain risk factors, such as a history of radiation treatment for other cancers and damage to the lymphatic system, that can increase a person’s chance of getting this condition. Exposure to environmental toxins such as radon, lead, and mercury can also increase the risk of developing cancer.

Genetic conditions, which can be inherited from your parents or develop at birth, can also increase the risk of synovial sarcoma. These include:

• Neurofibromatosis
• Gardner syndrome
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome
• Retinoblastoma
• Werner syndrome
• Gorlin syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis

Diagnosis

Radiographs, or X-rays, are commonly done early on in the process of diagnosing synovial sarcoma. X-rays, which provide images of bones and joints, can show damage to these structures near the tumor.

Ultrasound, or imaging using sound waves, can provide information in the early stages of diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. This testing helps determine whether a mass is fluid-filled, like a cyst, or a solid mass, like a tumor.

Computed tomography scans, or CT scans, are useful for diagnosing synovial sarcoma and can help determine if cancer has spread. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scan are also commonly used.

Doctors may further use a needle to take a biopsy, or small sample of tissue, from the tumor. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to determine what the tumor is made of.

Treatment

Treatment of synovial sarcoma depends on several things, such as the person’s age, where the tumor is, how large it is, and whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas. Most commonly, the first step in treatment is surgically removing the tumor.

Chemotherapy might be required after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells or treat cancer that has spread to other areas. High doses of radiation can also be used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. In some cases, doctors might use these therapies to shrink a tumor prior to surgery as well.

Prognosis

As with other cancers, the prognosis after a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma depends on many factors. These include:

• Tumor size
• Where the tumor is located
• Patient age at diagnosis
• Nerve or bone involvement
• Whether or not the cancer has spread

In general, large-sized tumors have a worse prognosis. Tumors that occur in the arms and legs (as opposed to internal organs) tend to lead to higher survival rates. People who have synovial sarcoma in childhood also have better survival rates.

A Word From Verywell

While synovial sarcoma is a relatively rare condition, early detection of cancer is key for improved prognosis. Talk to your doctor if you notice a lump, develop pain, or have difficulty moving your joints. They may be able to rule out this condition.

If you have been diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, remember that new treatments are developing all the time. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and consider joining a support group to improve your quality of life.