Synovial Sarcoma of Neck origin: a case report

Reprint requests to: Dr. Michael Mu Huo Teng Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital. No. 201, Shih Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan, R.O.C. Synovial sarcoma is a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor with extensive metastatic potential. It accounts between 8 and 10% of all soft tissue malignancies. Involvement of the head and neck region is relatively rare. We report a case of synovial sarcoma of the neck involving the oropharynx in a 47-year-old male. Synovial sarcoma is a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor with extensive metastatic potential. It accounts between 8 and 10% of all soft tissue malignancies [1]. Synovial sarcoma was f irst reported in 1893. Synovial sarcoma infrequently (estimated 5%–10% of cases) originates within a joint and rarely involve the articular surface [2]. The tumors usually originate in the extremities, in close relation to tendon sheaths, bursae, and joint capsules, of adolescents and young adults. Involvement of the head and neck region is relatively rare. The first documented repor t of head and neck synovial sarcoma was described by Jernstrom in 1954, reporting a case of malignant synovioma of the pharynx [3]. We report a case of a synovial sarcoma of the neck in a 47-yearold male. The behavior and image findings of this neoplasm are described.