Description

Synovial sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that tends to occur near the large joints, especially the knees. Synovial sarcoma usually affects young adults.

Synovial sarcoma begins as a growth of the cells that can rapidly multiply and destroy healthy tissue. The first symptom is usually the swelling or a lump under the skin. The lump may or may not be painful.

Synovial sarcoma can occur in almost any part of the body. The most common sites are in the legs and arms.

Synovial sarcoma is a type of cancer called soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue Sarcoma that occurs in the body of the connective tissues. There are many types of soft tissue sarcoma.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of synovial sarcoma depend on where the cancer starts. Most people note a pain, lump or bump that gradually gets bigger. The tumor usually starts near the knee or the ankle, but can appear on any part of the body.

Synovial sarcoma symptoms may include:

  • A lump or bump under the skin that gradually gets bigger.
  • Stiffness of the joints.
  • Pain.
  • The swelling.

Synovial sarcoma that occurs in the head or neck can cause other symptoms. These may include:

  • Breathing problems.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Changes in the way the voice sounds.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any of the symptoms that will not disappear and are a cause of concern.

Causes

It is not clear what causes the synovial sarcoma.

This type of cancer forms when cells develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes, to tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

Younger age is a risk factor for synovial sarcoma. This type of cancer more common in older children and young adults.

There is no way to prevent the synovial sarcoma.

Diagnosis

Synovial sarcoma is usually slow-growing, so that it may be years before the diagnosis is made. Sometimes, the synovial sarcoma is diagnosed in the error as a solution joint, such as arthritis or bursitis.

Tests and procedures used to diagnose synovial sarcoma include:

  • Imaging tests. Imaging tests make pictures of the body. It can show where a synovial sarcoma is, how big it is and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. Evidence for synovial sarcoma may include magnetic resonance imaging, X-rays and CT scans.
  • The biopsy.A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. The tissue can be removed through a needle placed through the skin and the cancer. Sometimes surgery is necessary to obtain a tissue sample. The sample is analyzed in a laboratory to see if it is cancer. Other special tests to give more details on the cancer cells. Your health care team uses this information to make a treatment plan.

The biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. The tissue can be removed through a needle placed through the skin and the cancer. Sometimes surgery is necessary to obtain a tissue sample.

The sample is analyzed in a laboratory to see if it is cancer. Other special tests to give more details on the cancer cells. Your health care team uses this information to make a treatment plan.

Treatment

Treatment options for synovial sarcoma include:

  • Surgery.Surgery is the main treatment for synovial sarcoma. The goal is to remove the cancer and some healthy tissue around it. This can sometimes mean the elimination of a muscle or muscle group. In the past, the surgery could have included the removal of an arm or a leg, known as the amputation. But medical advances have made the amputation is less likely to occur. To reduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy may be used.
  • The radiation therapy.Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points of the body. Radiation before surgery may shrink the cancer and make a success of the surgery more likely. Radiation therapy after surgery may kill cancer cells that might still be there.
  • Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. For synovial sarcoma, chemotherapy can be used before or after surgery. It can also be used when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
  • The targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. This can cause cancer cells to die or stop growing. Targeted therapy drugs are being studied for advanced synovial sarcoma.
  • The cell therapy. The cell therapy, it helps the immune system find and stop the cancer cells. This treatment consists in taking some of your immune cells and make them better in the recognition of cancer cells. Then, the cells were placed back in her body. This treatment may take months to set up. A cell therapy used for the synovial sarcoma is afamitresgene autoleucel (Tecelra). Could be an option for the advanced treatment of synovial sarcoma that has not been helped by chemotherapy.
  • Clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies provide an opportunity to try the latest treatment options. Side effects may not be known. Ask your health care team if there is a clinical trial available to take part in.

Surgery. Surgery is the main treatment for synovial sarcoma. The goal is to remove the cancer and some healthy tissue around it. This can sometimes mean the elimination of a muscle or muscle group.

In the past, the surgery could have included the removal of an arm or a leg, known as the amputation. But medical advances have made the amputation is less likely to occur.

To reduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy may be used.

The radiation therapy. Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points of the body.

Radiation before surgery may shrink the cancer and make a success of the surgery more likely. Radiation therapy after surgery may kill cancer cells that might still be there.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with your regular doctor or health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your doctor thinks you might have synovial sarcoma, probably, you will be referred to a specialist.

Specialists who care for people with synovial sarcoma include:

  • Doctors who specialize in cancer, called the medical oncologists.
  • Surgeons who specialize in the functioning of people with cancers that affect the soft tissues and bones. These surgeons are called orthopedic oncologists.
  • The doctors who treat cancer with radiation, called radiation oncologists.

Here is some information that can help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Write down the symptoms that you have. This may include the first time that he noticed a lump.
  • Write down your key medical information. Include any medical condition or surgery you have had.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking. Make a note of the amount of medicine that you take when you take it, and the reason for the take.
  • Consider bringing a family member or friend. This person can help you remember your important information to your health care professional speaking.
  • Write down the questions you would like to ask.

Write your questions in order of most important to least important. For synovial sarcoma, some possible questions may include:

  • Do I have cancer?
  • I need more tests?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • What are the potential risks of these treatment options?
  • Do any of the treatments to cure my cancer?
  • Can I get a copy of my pathology report?
  • How much time can I take to consider my options for treatment?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What happens if I decide not to have treatment?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask you questions which may include:

  • What symptoms does it worry you?
  • When did you first notice your symptoms?
  • Does anything make your symptoms worse or better?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Synovial sarcoma