Synovial Sarcoma of The Heart

Primary cardiac synovial sarcoma: A review correlating outcomes with surgery and adjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND

Cardiac synovial sarcoma (CSS) is an extremely rare malignant tumor with a severe prognosis, due to frequent relapses and metastases. To obtain useful information for treatment protocols, we analyzed survival and therapy data from the cases reported in the literature.

METHODS

A search of MEDLINE was performed throughout December 2018. Using key words relating to primary CSS, we collected from the literature a total of 97 cases, mainly consisting of single case reports. To identify predictors of overall survival, statistical analyses were performed on a selected cohort of 55 patients for whom relevant clinicopathological data were available, including surgery and adjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

The univariable analysis revealed that patients in their first three decades of life have better overall survival. The univariable analysis also showed that patients not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy are at increased risk of death. In the multivariable analysis, tumor resection and chemotherapy are factors significantly improving overall survival.

CONCLUSION

The survival of patients with CSS is positively influenced by a young patient's age and greatly improved by the administration of chemotherapy, even in the absence of tumor resection.

Primary cardiac synovial sarcoma

Primary cardiac synovial sarcoma is an extremely rare entity. The clinical and pathologic characteristics are still poorly understood, and prognostic factors influencing overall survival are still unknown. In the present study, all characteristics of reported patients, including sex, age, clinical presentations, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, imaging findings, pathology, location, therapy, and follow-up were carefully reviewed and survival analysis was performed. The present study has summarized some key features and may provide an effective consultation for the diagnosis and treatment of the tumor.

Imaging sarcomas of the great vessels and heart

Primary sarcomas of the aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and the heart are rare neoplasms. Aortic sarcomas are broadly categorized as either primarily luminal or primarily mural, with luminal sarcomas more likely to be misdiagnosed as thrombus. Pulmonary artery sarcomas are often mistaken for pulmonary embolism both clinically and at imaging. Vena caval sarcomas appear as intraluminal or extraluminal masses connecting to or filling the veins. The most common are leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava. Primary sarcomas of the heart are rare and usually appear as heterogeneous aggressive masses.