Synovial sarcoma: oncological and functional results

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the oncological and functional result of the treatment of patients with a synovial sarcoma. This paper gives a retrospective review of 20 patients (15 male and five female) treated for synovial sarcoma at the Nijmegen University Hospital, The Netherlands.

Methods: The median age of the patients was 30 years (range: 14-71, mean 37 years).

Results: The tumour locations were: lower extremity in 12 patients; upper extremity in three; pelvic and groin region in four; and the retroperitoneal space in one. Surgical stages according to Enneking (Clin Orthop 1986; 204: 9-24) were IIA in five cases; IIB in seven; and IIIB in eight. The surgical margin was intralesional in three cases; marginal in three; wide in six; and radical in six. In one case the surgical margin could not be assessed and one patient was not operated. One patient developed a recurrent tumour and one developed nodal metastases. Eight patients who did not have metastases at the time of diagnosis developed metastase during follow-up. Fourteen patients died of metastatic disease; one patient died of diabetes; one is alive with disease; and four presently do not have evidence of disease.

Conclusions: The outcome was poor, especially due to the occurrence of pulmonary metastases. The functional result according to the MSTS was 100% in four patients; in one the result was 93% because of the scar and venous insufficiency.