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synovial sarcoma, or malignant synovioma, is a tumor lesion of soft tissues in the area of u2bu3bthe joints of the legs, arms or neck. This is a fairly rare form of cancer, diagnosed in 15-25 people out of a million. Most often, synovial sarcoma affects people between the ages of XNUMX and XNUMX and is more common among the male population.
The disease affects the synovial membranes of the joints, tendons. Up to half of the cases, synovioma develops in the joints of the legs, more often the knee. The second most common site of tumor localization are the hands. In more rare cases, the disease affects the neck or head area. A common feature for synovial cancer is the ability to recur, returning within the first three years after treatment. In half of these cases, metastases enter the lungs, lymph nodes and bone marrow.
Sarcoma metastases in every second case migrate and grow in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and lungs. There have been cases of detection of metastases in the prostate gland, in the heart and brain.
Synovial sarcoma is a dangerous and rapidly progressive disease that is difficult to treat. Therefore, the treatment of synovioma should be carried out by oncologists with extensive professional experience.
Causes of synovial sarcoma
Reliable reasons for the development of synovial sarcoma have not been elucidated. There is a scientific assumption that the pathology is associated with the phenomenon of chromosomal translocation, in which there is an interaction between genes on different chromosomes, resulting in a mutant gene that provokes synovioma.
Symptoms of synovial sarcoma
Malignant synovioma in the initial stages of tumor growth is asymptomatic, which complicates diagnosis and timely treatment.
Symptoms of synovial sarcoma depend on where it is located and may include:
pain in the affected area;
the appearance of a swollen tumor, which can be dense or soft;
limitation of the range of motion in the joint;
heat;
numbness due to the pressure of the neoplasm on the nerves;
fatigue, lethargy;
weight loss, poor appetite;
enlargement of lymph nodes at the stage of metastasis.
If the sarcoma develops in the neck or head, then there is difficulty breathing and swallowing, often a change in voice.
Diagnosis of synovial sarcoma
Signs of a malignant synovioma can sometimes be mistaken for some other diseases:
inflammation of the synovial tissue – synovitis;
inflammation of the joint bag – bursitis;
inflammation of the joint, or arthritis.
Therefore, close attention is paid to the diagnosis of the disease, and a whole range of tests is used to obtain accurate research results:
immunological analysis of tumor tissue;
a biopsy, in which a small piece of the affected tissue is taken for detailed examination under a microscope;
genetic testing to detect chromosomal abnormalities;
angiography, or examination of the condition of the blood vessels at the site of the tumor;
x-ray of the joint;
radioisotope scanning, since cancer tissue tends to accumulate strontium isotopes when they are introduced into the body.
Therapies
Synovial sarcoma is a serious pathology and requires combination therapy. Treatment methods are similar to those for other forms of malignant tumors:
surgery;
radiation therapy;
chemotherapy.
It is much easier to treat small growths that can be removed with surgery. For tumors that have passed into the stage of metastasis formation, one operation is not enough; in such cases, all therapy options are used.
Surgery is the main method of treatment, which is indicated for synovial sarcoma. It allows you to remove the tumor in the place of its main localization and is effective in 50-70% of cases.
Chemotherapy involves the use of chemotherapy drugs, this method is always indicated in the presence of metastases. The main active ingredients of the medicines are ifosfamide and doxorubicin hydrochloride, the activity of which is aimed at destroying cancer cells and eliminating the tumor. Chemotherapy is not a completely successful method of treating synovial sarcoma, and the result is observed only in the case of sensitivity of cancer cells to cytostatic drugs.
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses radioactive radiation to destroy cancer cells. This method can be assigned:
immediately before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor;
after surgical treatment in case of detection of metastases.
Radiation therapy procedures are carried out in the radiology department. Before starting treatment, thorough examinations are carried out using computed tomography and MRI to determine the exact location of cancerous tissues. This approach is necessary to eliminate the maximum number of tumor cells and optimally preserve healthy tissues.
To obtain the effect of treatment, radiation therapy is prescribed in several courses, which the patient undergoes for 4-6 months. Radiotherapy given after surgery significantly reduces the risk of developing recurring cancers.
Forecast
The prognosis for synovial sarcoma depends on the size of the tumor, the presence of metastases, and the involvement of lymph nodes in the pathological process. For patients diagnosed in the early stages, the prognosis is good. However, in people with tumors larger than 6 cm, there is a very high risk of metastasis, and if metastases have spread throughout the body, then the prognosis for a cure is poor.
Early diagnosis of the disease is of great importance for the preservation of not only health, but also human life.
Every day, the likelihood of metastasis formation increases, so it is necessary to contact an oncologist at the first, even the most insignificant signs and changes in the joint area.