BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma is a rare and aggressive tumor more frequently affecting young adults and has a 5 year disease specific survival of 57-63%. The present study describes the institutional experience with the treatment of this tumor, emphasizing associations between clinical variables, patterns of recurrence and survival. METHODS: Between 1970 and 2001, 57 patients were identified with synovial sarcomas. Demographic, clinical and histological factors were analyzed. Associations between clinical variables and 5 year local recurrence free, metastasis free and disease specific survival were calculated. RESULTS: Median patient age was 26 years, 56% were male and 79% caucasians. Tumors were located in the lower limb in 74%, proximally in 53%.The most common symptom was the presence of tumor in 42%. At admission, 18% were intact, 42% manipulated and 40% recurrent. Most of them were larger than 5 cm, 3 patients had lymph node metastasis. The most common procedure was extensive resection, 30% were amputated. Wide margins were obtained in 65%, 51% were biphasic tumors. Neoadjuvant therapy was performed in 46%, 56% had adjuvant therapy. The 5 year local recurrence free, metastasis free and disease specific survival were 60±8%, 47±7% e 58±7%. Proximal location was associated with limb sparing procedures (p=0.001), close margins (p=0.006) and biphasic tumors (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: Data support the hypothesis that this is an aggressive tumor, with high rates of local and remote recurrences. The survival obtained was comparable to other reference centers. Treatment outside these centers should be discouraged.
Synovial sarcoma; Therapy; Recurrence
