Calcifying/ossifying synovial sarcoma: a clinicopathologic and molecular study of 5 cases

Document Type

Article

Department

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Abstract

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a soft tissue sarcoma with a generally aggressive behavior. Calcifying/ossifying SS is a rare variant associated with a favorable prognosis.AIM: The aim was to report clinicopathological features and molecular analysis of 5 cases of calcifying/ossifying SS.MATERIALS AND Methods: Record of 370 cases of SS reported in the section of Histopathology, of a tertiary care Hospital, between 2002 and 2011 were retrieved. Five cases exhibiting extensive calcification and ossification were identified. Immunohistochemistry was performed using Flex technique. Molecular analysis of these 5 cases was performed later at the collaborative Hospital abroad, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The ages of the patients ranged from 13 to 44 years (mean age 27 years; female to male ratio 1.6:1). The duration of symptoms ranged from 5 months to 5 years. Histologically, 4 were monophasic, and 1 was biphasic. Three cases exhibited extensive calcification and two extensive ossification. Immunohistochemical stain (epithelial membrane antigen was positive in all 5 cases, CKAE1/AE3 (3/4), Bcl2 (4/4), S100 (4/4), CK7 (2/2), CD99 (1/3) and vimentin (2/2). Intact RNA was obtained from 3 cases, all of which were positive for the SYT/SSX fusion transcript. Follow-up was available in 4 cases and ranged from 19 months to 85 months (mean 50 months). Local recurrence was seen in 2 cases. In conclusions, we report clinicopathologic features of 5 cases of calcifying/ossifying SS. The duration of symptoms and mean age of patients is similar to the literature. A slight female predominance was seen in contrast to a male predominance described in the literature. The clinical course of our cases validates the favorable prognosis of this rare type of SS.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS