Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the conjunctiva

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.

INTRAOCULAR SYNOVIAL SARCOMA

PURPOSE

To describe the first reported case of intraocular synovial sarcoma.

METHODS

A 29-year-old man was enucleated for a blind, painful eye. Pathologic examination revealed an unexpected intraocular spindle cell tumor.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical characterization revealed diffuse reactivity of the tumor cells for vimentin and focal positivity for epithelial markers pankeratin and epithelial membrane antigen. Melanoma markers were negative. Fluorescent in situ hybridization studies identified a t(X;18) (p11.2;q11.2) translocation, establishing a final diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. There was no evidence of extraocular extension as the resected margin of the optic nerve was free of tumor. Further imaging studies revealed no extraocular primary site or metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The incidental discovery of an intraocular malignancy in this case underscores the importance of routine histopathologic analysis of all enucleated globes. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of an intraocular synovial sarcoma, either as metastasis or as primary site.

Primary intraocular synovial sarcoma in the post retinal detachment operative state

Synovial sarcoma generally arises in the deep soft tissue, although it has been described at virtually every anatomic site except in the eyeball. We report the case of a 48-year-old woman who had a history of retinal detachment surgery and who had undergone vitrectomy and the insertion of a solid silicon explant 24 years previously. She reported a visual field defect. Funduscopy and MRI revealed a tumour just behind the iris in the left eyeball, and enucleation was performed. Microscopic examination of the tumour revealed uniform spindle cells in a fascicular arrangement with frequent mitotic figures. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumour was positive for TLE1 and epithelial membrane antigen and fluorescent in situ hybridisation revealed that the tumour had a rearrangement of the SYT gene. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR confirmed the presence of a SYT-SSX2 fusion transcript. On the basis of these histomorphological and molecular features, the diagnosis of poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma was rendered.

Monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pharynx: a case report

Synovial sarcomas are a rare form of soft tissue sarcomas. We present a case of a 62 year-old male presenting with a left thyroid lump initially though to be a thyroid adenoma but subsequently diagnosed as a monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pharynx. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment of this case.

Synovial sarcoma with radiological appearances of primitive neuroectodermal tumour/Ewing sarcoma: differentiation by molecular genetic studies

Synovial sarcoma (SS) arises in soft tissues but may invade adjacent bone. We describe a case of SS presenting as aggressive lysis of the proximal ulna, the imaging of which suggested a primary bone lesion. Needle biopsy showed a "small round blue cell tumour", and a primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET)/Ewing sarcoma was suggested on the basis of the imaging appearances. The definitive diagnosis of synovial sarcoma was made following molecular genetic studies, which demonstrated a fusion product incorporating the genes SYT and SSX1. The importance of correct diagnosis to guide appropriate management, and, therefore, the necessity for molecular genetic studies, is discussed.