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Synovial sarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that happens mostly in teenagers and young adults. Even though it is named after the synovial membrane — a type of tissue that lines the joints and helps them move — the cancer doesn’t actually start in a joint. It was given this name because the cancer cells look like joint cells when they’re viewed under a microscope.
This sarcoma usually appears in muscles or ligaments in the arms, legs or feet near a joint, like in the knees, ankle or wrists.
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Symptoms and Signs
The most common sign of synovial sarcoma is a firm lump or swelling under the skin. Because the lumps often grow slowly, they may not be painful at first. Sometimes, they’re mistaken for a sports injury or a harmless bump.
As the tumor gets larger, it may start to cause pain, soreness or make it difficult to move the part of the body where it is located. If the synovial sarcoma is growing near a nerve, it might cause a pins-and-needles feeling or numbness. In some cases, if it is in the head or neck, it might cause problems with breathing or swallowing.
Causes and Risk Factors
All sarcomas are caused by changes in the body’s cells. In the case of synovial sarcoma, it’s caused by a genetic change where two chromosomes swap pieces. This creates a new gene that tells the cells to multiply too quickly and form a tumor. This genetic change is not usually something a person is born with or passes down to their children. The main risk factor is age, as most people who have synovial sarcoma are between 15 and 40.
Synovial Sarcoma Care Team
At Fred Hutch, we offer comprehensive treatment from a team of experts who specialize in soft tissue sarcomas and bone cancers.
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Diagnosing Synovial Sarcoma
When you visit a physician to discuss a lump or swelling, they will ask questions about your health and examine you. But because synovial sarcoma can often be mistaken for other issues, like a sports injury or a harmless cyst, a physician will want you to have imaging scans like an MRI or CT scan to see what is happening.
If scans show something unusual, the physician will perform a biopsy by taking a tiny sample of the tissue to send to a lab so it can be examined. To be certain it is synovial sarcoma and not another type of cancer, the lab will look for a unique genetic change where two specific genes have joined together. If this has happened, the diagnosis is synovial sarcoma.
Additionally, physicians use staging to see how far the cancer has grown and if it has spread to other areas. This helps your care team decide on the best possible treatment plan for you.
Learn more about diagnosing and staging sarcoma.
Treating Synovial Sarcoma
Surgery is usually used to treat synovial sarcoma. Radiation therapy, might also be used to destroy cancer cells either before or after surgery. If the cancer is very large or has spread, chemotherapy might be used. At Fred Hutch, every patient gets a personal treatment plan based on the unique features of their tumor and the stage.
Learn more about treating sarcoma.
Prognosis and Survival
When physicians and scientists talk about cancer survival rates, they typically mean the percentage of people expected to survive their cancer for at least five years after being diagnosed. (The rate doesn’t include the risk of dying during that time for some other reason.) Overall, the relative five-year survival rate for synovial sarcoma in the U.S. is approximately 60% according to the SEER database from the National Cancer Institute.
This rate comes from looking at a large, varied group of people. The chance of surviving cancer at least five years can vary greatly from one person to another. It depends on many factors, like how far the cancer has spread. Your Fred Hutch care team can explain how statistics like survival rates might apply to you.
Learn more about prognosis and survival of sarcoma.