[Rare primary chest wall sarcoma: the synovialosarcoma]

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant primary tumours occurring in the thorax encompass a large group of tumours which may arise from the lung, mediastinal structures, the pleura or the chest wall.

Observation: We report the case of a 37 year old patient, who presented with left sided chest pain. On clinical examination a right sided chest wall mass was identified. Chest X Ray showed a left sided upper mediastinal opacity, associated with a left sided pleural opacity. Thoracic CT scan revealed a large mass arising from the chest wall and infiltrating the mediastinum associated with a second chest wall mass at the level of the 8(th) and 9(th) right ribs. The biopsy of the chest wall mass revealed it to be a parietal synovialosarcoma. The patient responded to chemotherapy based on ifosfamid and doxorubicin as well as mediastino-pulmonary radiotherapy. There was an improvement in the patient's clinical and radiological state but the patient died by pulmonary embolism after the 3(rd) cause of treatment.

Conclusion: Chest wall synovialosarcoma has a poor prognosis, however, its chemosensitivity means that treatment may initially be effective.