[Synovial sarcoma of the head and neck: two cases report]

Abstract

Synovial sarcomas are soft tissue tumors that rarely occur in the head and neck The purpose of this report is to accrue data on this sarcoma at a rare site, and to highlight the histopathological differential diagnosis with other cervical tumors.

Materials and methods: Two cases of cervico-facial tumors were reported in 26 and 27 year old women.

Results: Histologically, these tumors were classified into monophasic and biphasic variants. Immunohistochemistry plays a major part in the differential diagnosis, enabling the demonstration of epithelial differentiation. Radical surgery was the mainstay of treatment with post-operative radiotherapy for residual disease in one case. Local recurrence was developed in the patient who had only surgical treatment.

Discussion: Synovial sarcomas are a rare soft tissue malignancies and the head and neck region location accounts for 3-5% of them. The rarity of this tumor in the head and neck and its multitude of his histopathologic features are responsible for frequent initial misdiagnosis. Histologic, immunohistochemic and characteristic chromosomal translocation findings are necessary for diagnosis. The poor prognosis of this sarcoma justified a radical surgery with post-operative radiotherapy.