Abstract
Synovial sarcomas are rare malignant tumors affecting mainly young adults, presenting as a slow growth mass located in deep soft tissues of extremities, near the joints. In this report a 34-year-old male patient, presented an ulcerovegetative lesion on the right wrist which was completely excised. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed synovial sarcomas with poorly differentiated cells. This patient presented 11 months later with ipsilateral axillary lymph node metastasis, which emphasizes the unfavorable prognosis of this synovial sarcoma variant. The indolent growth pattern of this sarcoma justifies the well circumscribed initial stages, which progressively infiltrate adjacent structures with lung metastasis (80%) and lymph node involvement (20%) and thus corroborates the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Pathology; Sarcoma, synovial; Soft tissue neoplasms
INTRODUCTION
Synovial sarcomas (SS) are rare benign neoplasms that encompass from 5 to 10% of soft tissue sarcomas.11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.,22 Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4. They affect mainly young adults and present as a painful slow growth mass located in deep soft tissues of extremities, near joints, even though their onset can be in any part of the body. Primary involvement of the epidermis in these sarcomas is extremely rare.11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012. This report illustrates a poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma in the wrist with extension to the skin and with unfavorable evolution characterized by ganglionary and pulmonary metastases.
CASE REPORT
Male patient, 34 years old, with history of painful lesion for 3 months, ulcerovegetative, sessile, infiltrating the dermis for 3 cm on its greater axis, in the right wrist (Figure 1). A physical examination did not show either lymphadenomegalies or movement limitation of the limb. Excision of lesion was performed and histopathological study requested. In the histological sections stained by hematoxilin-eosin a malign neoplasm it was evidenced, with proliferation of poorly differentiated cells with scarce, irregular and eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic round nuclei and conspicuous nucleoli suggesting poorly differentiated SS (Figures 2 and 3). The immuno-histochemical technique revealed focal positivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and TLEI (Wnt pathway, synovial sarcoma) and negativity for cytokeratins (AE1/AE3), emphasizing a poorly differentiated profile of this SS (Figure 4). The patient returned after 11 months with a painful tumor measuring 9x9 cm, erythematous, of stony consistency in the right axillary region suggesting lymph node metastasis (Figure 5). He presented considerable weight loss, intermittent fever and limitation of wrist movement. Physical examination did not show other lymphadenomegalies. During diagnosis the thorax CT scan detected a poorly defined nodule, spiculated margins, dense soft parts and calcification foci in the right lower lobe with 1 cm and another similar subpleural nodule in the middle lobe with 0.4 cm suggesting pulmonary metastasis. Patient in stage IV (any G, any T, N1M0 or M1) was referred to the clinical oncology department for treatment of pulmonary and lymph node metastasis.33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.
Wide base ulcerovegetative lesion, sessile, painful, infiltrating the dermis measuring 3 x 2.7 cm in right wrist. Front view
Fragment of cutaneous biopsy stained with hematoxilineosin 100x evidencing multiple nodular formations in the dermis formed by proliferation of neoplastic cells separated by streams of connective tissue
Fragment of cutaneous biopsy stained with hematoxilineosin 100x evidencing poorly differentiated cells with scarce, irregular and eosinophilic cytoplasm with hyperchromatic round nuclei and conspicuous nucleoli
Immunohistochemistry of cutaneous biopsy focally positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and TLEI (Wnt pathway, synovial sarcoma)
Painful tumor measuring 9x9 cm, erythematous, of stony consistency, not adhered to deep planes in the right axillary region suggesting lymph node metastasis
DISCUSSION
SS are malignant rare tumors that affect mainly young adults. For this reason, early treatment has an important impact on life expectancy.11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.,22 Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4.,44 Rajput A, Kraybill WG. Clinical trials and soft tissue sarcomas. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2003;12:485-97. They are located in deep soft tissues, close to the joints, especially in the lower limbs, being rarely located in the wrist.11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.,22 Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4.,33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011. In initial stages the tumor is well defined, but gradually infiltrates adjacent structures and/or involves more remote sites like the lungs (80%) and lymph nodes (20%) by metastasis.22 Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4.,33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011. The diagnosis depends on histopathological study that can identify 4 subtypes: biphasic, monophasic epithelial, monophasic fibrous and the poorly defined SS. Many times the histology of these tumors looks like metastatic carcinoma, malignant melanoma, epithelioid sarcoma and malignant schwannoma raising the need of immunohistochemistry for differential diagnosis.11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.,22 Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4. Almost all SS are positive for vimentin, cytokeratin EMA and TLEI (Wnt pathway, synovial sarcoma). In the poorly differentiated form the focal marker of EMA and TLEI on neoplastic cells is more frequent than that of cytokeratins, which is usually negative, confirming the immuno-histochemical panel finding of the report.11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.,55 Eilber FC, Dry SM. Diagnosis and Management of Synovial Sarcoma. J Surg Oncol. 2008;97:314-20. The cytogenetic study helps in the diagnosis of non-characteristic cases. Over 90% of the SS present translocation between chromosome 18 and X, t(X; 18) (p11; q11) arising from the fusion of gene SYT with the gene SSX1 (biphasic) or SSX2 (monophasic).11 Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.,55 Eilber FC, Dry SM. Diagnosis and Management of Synovial Sarcoma. J Surg Oncol. 2008;97:314-20. The biological behavior of SS is variable, with several factors negatively changing the prognosis, as poorly differentiated histological subtype, tumoral dimension > 5 cm, lymph node involvement and presence of metastases (mainly pulmonary).33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.,66 Wisanuyotin T, Radapat K, Sirichativapee W, Paholpak P, Kosuwon W, Sumnanoont C, et al. Prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in synovial sarcoma of the extremities. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2013;9:80-5. These factors compose TNM staging criteria and direct the treatment for each stage of the disease. The low incidence of SS and the diverse forms of treatment in different centers makes the evaluation of effectiveness of therapeutic means used more difficult.22 Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4.,33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011. Like in other sarcomas, the standard treatment is wide surgery margins, as performed in this case. Due to lack of random studies that indicate an adequate margin for resection an arbitrary value of 2 cm is used.33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.,55 Eilber FC, Dry SM. Diagnosis and Management of Synovial Sarcoma. J Surg Oncol. 2008;97:314-20.,66 Wisanuyotin T, Radapat K, Sirichativapee W, Paholpak P, Kosuwon W, Sumnanoont C, et al. Prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in synovial sarcoma of the extremities. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2013;9:80-5. In spite of the use of wide resections, local or remote relapses of these tumors are common. In the case studied there was pulmonary and lymph node metastasis 11 months after the onset of lesion and 8 months after tumoral resection, but there are reports of onset after 5 years. There is some consensus in indicating adjuvant radiotherapy for high degree tumors, proximal G2 or head and neck, although studies suggest that the practice diminishes local relapse, but does not affect survival in high degree tumors.33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.,77 Corrêa DS, Cunha IW, Carvalho AL, Soares FA, Fauzoni R, Lopes A. Sarcoma sinovial de extremidades com doença localizada ao diagnóstico: tratamento e padrões de recidiva em 57 casos. Rev Col Bras Cir 2005;32:304-9. The role of chemotherapy is still uncertain, but currently SS have been considered chemosensitive and indications of its use have been increasing.33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.,55 Eilber FC, Dry SM. Diagnosis and Management of Synovial Sarcoma. J Surg Oncol. 2008;97:314-20. Post-treatment periodic monitoring is recommended in order to diagnose complications early and increase the life expectancy of these patients.33 Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.,77 Corrêa DS, Cunha IW, Carvalho AL, Soares FA, Fauzoni R, Lopes A. Sarcoma sinovial de extremidades com doença localizada ao diagnóstico: tratamento e padrões de recidiva em 57 casos. Rev Col Bras Cir 2005;32:304-9. In this case we highlight the extension to the skin (extremely rare) and the unfavorable evolution with evidence of lymph node and pulmonary metastasis, diminishing the life expectancy of the patient.
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How to cite this article: Maia DCC, Menezes CKS, Bastos TC, Ferreira LCL, Francesconi F. Poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma in the wrist: case report. An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(5):816-18.
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Financial Support: None
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Work performed at Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMTAM) - Manaus (AM), Brazil.
REFERENCES
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1Requena L. Tumores cutâneos de partes blandas. Madri: Aula Médica; 2012.
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2Rosa ACF, Machado MM, Grasso Filho LG, Albertotti F, Sato E, Figueiredo MAJ, et. al. Sarcoma sinovial fibroso do pé - relato de caso. Radiol Bras. 2002;35:51-4.
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3Buzaid, AC, Maluf, FC, Lima, CMR, editores. MOC - Manual de Oncologia Clínica do Brasil. 9. ed. São Paulo: Dendrix Edição e Design Ltda; 2011.
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4Rajput A, Kraybill WG. Clinical trials and soft tissue sarcomas. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2003;12:485-97.
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5Eilber FC, Dry SM. Diagnosis and Management of Synovial Sarcoma. J Surg Oncol. 2008;97:314-20.
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6Wisanuyotin T, Radapat K, Sirichativapee W, Paholpak P, Kosuwon W, Sumnanoont C, et al Prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in synovial sarcoma of the extremities. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2013;9:80-5.
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7Corrêa DS, Cunha IW, Carvalho AL, Soares FA, Fauzoni R, Lopes A. Sarcoma sinovial de extremidades com doença localizada ao diagnóstico: tratamento e padrões de recidiva em 57 casos. Rev Col Bras Cir 2005;32:304-9.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Sep-Oct 2014
History
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Received
29 July 2013 -
Accepted
30 Sept 2013