Synovial sarcoma (malignant synovium): causes, symptoms, treatment methods

Synovial sarcoma is a malignant formation in soft tissues. It develops from tendon tissue, fascia, muscle and synovial membrane of large joints. The pathological process leads to anaplasia of cells, a violation of their differentiation. A tumor develops that is difficult to treat.

General description of the disease

Synovial sarcoma is characterized by the fact that it does not have a capsule. If you cut a neoplasm, then inside it you can see a lot of cracks and cysts. Over time, the tumor spreads to the bones, destroying them.

Most often there is such an oncology, the symptoms of which are manifested fairly quickly, in patients aged 15 to 20 years. And the floor in this case does not matter. The tumor is able to give metastases that are found in the lungs, lymph nodes, bones 5-8 years after the onset of the disease.

Such an oncology is diagnosed, the symptoms of which first appear weak, in all 3 patients out of a million, so the pathology is considered quite rare. The tumor is localized mainly in the knee joints. Less often, it is formed in the elbows or in the neck.

Sarcoma is able to recur after treatment. And the risk is quite high. Repeatedly it appears in 1-3 years. The disease progresses very quickly. In addition, it is difficult to treat. Even in the case of timely and successful therapy, a favorable outcome is rarely predicted. The disease is treacherous and aggressive.

Why does the tumor develop?

Synovial sarcoma can be provoked by such factors:

• Radiation or ionizing radiation.
• Carcinogenic effects of chemicals.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Immunosuppressive therapy of other malignant diseases.
• Injury.

In order for the disease not to develop, these causes must be eliminated.

Classification of pathology

Synovial sarcoma can be of different types. Classification of the disease can be carried out according to the structure of the neoplasm:

• Biphasic. Here, epithelial and sarcomatous precancerous components are formed.
• Monophasic synovial sarcoma. It in its composition has one type of pathologically altered cells: epithelial or sarcomatous.

The tumor can be divided into species by its morphology:

1. Fibrous. It consists of a new formation of fibers.
2. Cellular. In its structure, there is a glandular tissue, from which the papillomas and cysts usually develop.

Also, a hard or soft tumor can be distinguished by consistency. There is a classification according to the microscopic structure of the neoplasms: histoid, giant cell, fibrous, adenomatous, alveolar or mixed.

Symptoms of swallowing

If a patient develops such an oncology, her symptoms are as follows:

• Sudden pain in the area of the affected joint.
• Disturbance of mobility and functionality of the joint.
• Increase in regional lymph nodes. It occurs because of the spread of metastases.
• Fast fatiguability.
• Significant temperature increase.
• Fever.
• A hard or soft formation is felt in the affected joint.
• Weight loss.

Synovial sarcoma is a very insidious disease, so the first symptoms are an occasion to consult a doctor.

Diagnosis of pathology

Very often even experienced doctors make mistakes in the diagnosis, and this is fraught with a rapid deterioration of the patient's condition. A complete examination includes such procedures:

• X-ray of the affected joint.
• Angiographic examination of blood vessels.
• Radioisotope diagnostics to detect the smallest foci of malignant cells.
• Biopsy of neoplasm tissue.
• Ultrasound.
• CT or MRI.
• Laparoscopy.
• Cytological examination of the tumor sample.
• Radiography of the chest, allowing to determine the presence of metastases.
• Immunological analysis of the tumor.
• Genetic research, which allows to diagnose changes in chromosomes.

Synovial sarcoma of the knee joint is considered the most common type of pathology among tumors of this type.

Features of treatment

Therapy of any malignant formation should be lengthy and intense. It provides for such stages of treatment:

1. Surgery. Here, the malignant node is removed within the healthy tissue. That is, around the tumor should be excised another 2-4 cm of normal cells. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove the affected lymph nodes or the entire joint. To restore the functionality of the joint, the patient undergoes an operation to replace the joint with an artificial prosthesis.
2. Radiation therapy. It is used mainly if the tumor has already metastasized. This therapy is used before and after surgery. In the first case, irradiation helps to stop the growth of the neoplasm and reduce its size. After the operation, the therapy is performed in case of detection of metastases. The patient is shown several irradiation courses, between which intervals are present. Treatment lasts about 4-6 months.
3. Chemical Therapy. In this way, the synovial sarcoma of stage 3 is treated. For therapy, such drugs as Adriamycin and Carminomycin are used. Such treatment can be effective only if the tumor is sensitive to cytotoxic drugs.

Treatment of the disease can not give a 100% guarantee that the tumor will not reappear. But do not produce therapy.

Prognosis and prevention

Malignant synovioma in most cases has an unfavorable prognosis. High chances for survival are only those patients whose pathology was detected at the first stage of development. The percentage in this case is 80%.

The most terrible prognosis is in a monophasic synovium. The fact is that with her metastases are formed immediately in the lungs. Biphasic tumor lends itself to successful treatment in half the cases.

The disease is accompanied by the rapid formation of metastases, so when the first symptoms appear you should run to the doctor. Synovioma is considered one of the most dangerous progressive diseases, which is diagnosed every year more often. Therapy is not always able to completely relieve the patient of the pathology, but it will allow him to prolong his life somewhat.

There is no preventative scheme capable of guaranteeing the prevention of the development of the disease. But those people who have a genetic predisposition, you need to be surveyed every year. But even in the most difficult situation, one should not lose hope, because medicine does not stand still. Be healthy!