Laryngeal synovial sarcoma: Report of 2 cases

Synovial sarcoma of the head and neck: A review of reported cases on the clinical characteristics and treatment methods

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma that occurs predominantly in older children and young adults in their thirties. It is usually very challenging to diagnose and treat synovial sarcoma in the head and neck region. The purpose of this review is to investigate the clinical manifestations and different treatment methods in the management of primary synovial sarcoma of the head and neck. HNSS has an aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the primary treatment methods. Typically, surgical resection with negative margins remains the foundation of therapy, which is not very easily achieved in the head and neck due to its complex anatomical structure and the presence of many blood vessels and nerves. However, synovial sarcoma has a high recurrence rate, so aggressive management and close follow-up are warranted for the optimal outcome.

Synovial sarcoma of the head & neck: A review of reported cases in the literature

Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade malignancy that seldom manifests in the head and neck. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature on primary HNSS. This review study includes case reports, case series and retrospective cohort studies on primary HNSS published in the English language. All cases identified via PubMed were analyzed individually. Articles were included according to specified eligibility criteria. The total number of cases analyzed was 243 (91 case reports, 53 cases from 16 case series, and 99 cases from 8 retrospective cohort studies). The average age at the time of HNSS diagnosis was 33.5 years. The ratio of male-to-female was 1.64:1. The most frequently occurring histologic subtype was biphasic (59.2%). The most common location was the neck. Hoarseness was the most common presenting symptom. Almost all patients (98.3%) underwent surgical excision. 55.6% of patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. A smaller number of patients (30.7%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. 60.3% of patients were alive with no evidence of disease at follow-up while 28.0% of patients died of HNSS at follow-up. The average follow-up period was 52.0 months. Synovial sarcoma is a rare head and neck malignancy. Surgical excision with adjuvant radiation is the most frequently employed treatment modality. Regardless of treatment modality, the prognosis of the tumor is guarded.

Laryngeal Synovial Sarcoma: a Rare Clinical Entity

Synovial sarcomas in head and neck region are extremely rare and have an aggressive nature and an unpredictable prognosis. The principles of management are still controversial, and a multidisciplinary approach is essential in managing Synovial sarcomas. We present a case report here for its rarity along with a brief review of literature.