Synovial sarcoma: imaging features of common and uncommon primary sites, metastatic patterns, and treatment response

The purpose of this review is to describe the imaging features, common and uncommon sites, metastatic pattern, and treatment response of synovial sarcoma.

Synovial sarcoma primarily occurs in young adults, most commonly in the lower extremities; presents as a large, noninfiltrative, well-circumscribed mass adjacent to joints, often with punctuate calcifications; and may exhibit a triple signal pattern on T2-weighted images. Small synovial sarcomas can mimic benign lesions. This tumor has a propensity for late local recurrence and metastasis, most commonly to lung.