Evaluation of clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for synovial sarcoma arising from the extremities

Synovial sarcoma is an uncommon tumor and remains a disease with poor prognosis. Although several prognostic factors have been previously reported, prognostic factors associated with synovial sarcoma are conflicting. This study was undertaken to evaluate our institutional clinical outcomes and to determine prognostic factors for synovial sarcoma.

A series of 17 patients with synovial sarcoma arising from the extremities surgically treated between September 1979 and April 2005 was analyzed retrospectively. Data regarding patient age, sex, primary tumor site, primary tumor size, histologic subtype, management of primary tumor (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), microscopic surgical margins, previous treatment at other hospitals for synovial sarcoma and follow-up information were recorded. Furthermore, statistical analysis of survival rates and prognostic variables were examined.

The mean and median follow-up time were 82.4 months and 79.0 months, respectively. Seven of 17 patients (41.2%) initially underwent inappropriate unplanned surgery at other hospitals. The surgical margins of the definitive surgery at our hospital were adequate in all patients. The local recurrence and metastasis rates after definite surgery with adequate surgical margins at our hospital were 5.9% and 35.3%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 88.2% and 79.4%, respectively. A statistically significant adverse prognostic factor was undergoing initial surgical resection at other hospitals (p=0.02).

Initial surgical treatment with adequate surgical margins by experienced surgeons for synovial sarcomas, preferably at specialized hospitals, should be considered to increase local control and improve outcome and survival.