Fleshy Cancerous Growth in Soft Synovial Tissue

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Fleshy Cancerous Growth in Soft (Synovial) Tissue
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Synovial Sarcoma

• What is it?
• What causes it?
• What are the symptoms of it?
• How is it diagnosed?
• How can it be treated ?

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Synovial Sarcoma is

• A malignant tumor of the soft tissues, usually
  around the joints
• Synovial is a tissue found around the tendons
• Sarcoma is cancer of connective tissue

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Causes of it are

• Generally unknown
• Some studies suggest that genetic alterations are
  key in formation
• What happens in this genetic alteration is a
• rearrangement in chromosome material between X
  number 18
• which changes position and function of genes,
  causing a fusion of genes a.k.a fusion
  transcript
• This abnormal fusion transcript involves two
  genes which creates a new gene

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And the symptoms are

• Deep-seated swelling or mass
• Mass that may/not be accompanied by pain
• Limping or difficulty using legs, arms, hands or
  feet
• The symptoms may resemble other conditions like
  arthritis and bursitis

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Diagnosed by

• A biopsy most conclusive!
• X-rays can distinguish benign from malignant
  tumors
• MRI assess size and extent of mass
• CAT scan shows detailed images of any part of
  the body, more detail than X-ray
• Bone scans can determine cause of bone pain or
  inflammation

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Specifics of bone scans

• To have the scan, you must first have a
  radioactive substance called a radionuclide
  injected into your blood stream. 
• The radionuclide travels through the blood and
  collects in your bones.  More of it tends to
  collect in areas where there is a lot of activity
  in the bone. 
• 'Activity' means the bone is breaking down, or
  repairing itself. These areas of activity are
  picked out by the camera. They are commonly
  called 'hot spots'.

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Treatments

• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Angiogenesis inhibitors

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Surgery

• Limb-sparing when the tumor CAN be removed, all
  of the tissue involved with the tumor are taken
  out, while unaffected tendons, nerves, vessels
  are left in the body
• Amputation when the tumor CANNOT be removed
  because it involves the nerves and blood vessels

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Radiation Therapy

• Kills cancer cells and shrinks tumors using high
  energy rays
• Sometimes used in conjunction with surgery
• Rarely used as treatment for primary tumor

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Chemotherapy

• A drug treatment that interferes with the cancer
  cells ability to grow and reproduce
• Different groups of drugs work in different ways
  to fight cancer cells and shrink tumors

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Systemic treatment

• Introduced into the bloodstream and travels
  through the body to kill cancer cells
• Chemotherapy may be given
• As a pill to swallow
• As an injection into the muscle or fat tissue
• Intravenously, directly into the bloodstream
• Intrathecally, directly into the spine with a
  needle

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Angiogenesis inhibitors

• Substances that may be able to prevent the growth
  of tumors by blocking formation of new blood
  vessels that feed the tumors

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To sum it up

• Synovial sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that
  occurs most often around joints of legs and arms
  (1 of childhood cancers)
• Pain, tenderness, and swelling are the most
  common symptoms
• Causes are generally unknown, but studies have
  shown that genetic alterations may cause this
  cancer
• The stage of the tumor suggests which form of
  treatment is appropriate and amputation,
  radiation therapy, chemotherapy and angiogenesis
  inhibitors are possible options