Management of primary retroperitoneal synovial sarcoma: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that is usually developed from areas where synovial tissue exists, especially at the extremities. Nevertheless, several cases of retroperitoneal SS (RSS) have been described. We herein report a case of RSS presented in our institution.

CASE SUMMARY

A 69-year-old female patient was admitted with a large, palpable, firm mass in the right abdominal space SS. Computerized tomography scan depicted a concentric, sharply marinated retro-peritoneal lesion which was displacing the right kidney and the lower edge of the liver. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical excision of the mass with additional right nephrectomy and resection of the right adrenal gland and a part of the diaphragm. The final histological diagnosis of the tumour was grade II monophasic RSS.

CONCLUSION

RSS is encountered in the biphasic type, the monophasic fibrous, and the monophasic epithelial category as well. Relevant clinical manifestations are not always documented at early stages. Therefore, the final diagnosis is posed after complete histological examination taking into consideration the results of immunochemistry and genetic analysis. Therapeutic approach happens often late when metastases at the lungs and the liver are apparent. Thus, 5-year survival rates remain low.

Key Words: Retroperitoneal tumours; Synovial sarcoma; Case report; Clinical presentation; Diagnostic modalities; Therapeutic management

Core tip: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that is usually developed from areas where synovial tissue exists, especially at the extremities. Nevertheless, several cases of retroperitoneal SS (RSS) have been described. Diagnosis is accomplished after complete histological examination taking into consideration the results of immunochemistry and genetic analysis. Therapeutic approach happens often late when metastases at the lungs and the liver are apparent. Thus, 5-year survival rates remain low. Despite recent research on the therapeutic strategies against RSS, surgical resection appears the only potentially curative approach.

INTRODUCTION

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare type of soft tissue neoplastic disorder and accounts for 7%-8% of all relevant reported lesions[1]. It usually arises from areas where synovial tissue exists, especially at the extremities[2]. Nevertheless, several cases of retroperitoneal SS (RSS) have been described in the literature the last decades[3]. Although SS is more frequent in young males, it has been published that RSS affects both men and women aged from 13-52 years[4,5]. In terms of histology, SS has been encountered in the biphasic type, the monophasic fibrous, and the monophasic epithelial category as well. Relevant clinical manifestations are not always present at early stages and usually include non-specific abdominal pain, gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction, swelling of the lower extremities and the presence of a well-defined mass[6,7]. With regard to diagnostic modalities, RSS is usually detected by computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography[8]. However, the final diagnosis is established after complete histological examination taking into consideration the results of immunochemistry and genetic analysis[9,10]. As the neoplasm is relatively rare, a limited number of affected patients are available for study. In addition, recent surveys report a difficulty in understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the progression of the lesion. Moreover, RSS consists one of the most biologically virulent cancers and is difficult to cure by conventional procedures. Due to the fact that SS remains asymptomatic in its initial stage, patients may already present with additional pulmonary and hepatic metastatic disease[11-16]. As a result, treatment options are limited and consequently 5-year survival rates remain disappointingly low ranging from 20% to 29%[14]. Despite recent research on the therapeutic strategies against RSS, surgical resection appears the only potentially curative approach. Unfortunately, a mere minority of patients is eligible to undergo surgical intervention[12,14,16]. Furthermore, surgical removal of RSS does not necessarily guarantee patient’s long-term recovery. Alternative therapies, such as radio- and chemotherapy proved inadequate[6]. We herein report a case of RSS presented in our institution. Relevant literature is briefly reviewed. Clinical features, histogenesis, morphological and immunochemical findings are discussed, while the role of current diagnostic and therapeutic management of this uncommon entity is emphasized.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 69-year-old female patient was presented with increasing right lumbar pain and vomiting for 15 d.

History of present illness

A 69-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with a 15-d history of increasing right lumbar pain, symptoms of incomplete bowel obstruction and vomiting. The patient presented with general malaise and loss of weight.

History of past illness

The patient had no previous disease.

Physical examination

Meticulous physical examination revealed a large, palpable, firm mass in the right abdominal space with a recrudescence of symptoms of anemia.

Laboratory testing

Apart from anaemia, common laboratory blood and urine examinations were within normal limits, whereas subsequent GI endoscopy was not indicative of pathologic findings.

Imaging examination

Erect abdominal X-rays depicted limited small bowel fluid levels, indicating intestinal obstruction. Ultrasonography (U/S) elucidated the suspicion of an abdominal cystic mass or haematoma. Subsequent CT scan depicted a concentric, sharply marginated retro-peritoneal lesion which was displacing the right kidney and the lower edge of the liver (Figure 1). Additional infiltration of the major psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles was documented while associated lymphadenopathy was not apparent. Imaging signs of complete intestinal obstruction were absent.

Figure 1 Computerized tomography depiction of a concentric, sharply marginated retro-peritoneal synovial sarcoma.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The final histological diagnosis of the tumour was grade II monophasic RSS.

TREATMENT

In accordance with multimodality tumor board’s decision surgical treatment was implemented. Pre-operative U/S or CT guided biopsy was avoided as CT depiction was not indicative of lymphoma. In addition, neo-adjuvant administration of radio-therapy was recommended.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

After optimisation of her condition, the patient underwent en bloc surgical excision of the mass with additional right nephrectomy and resection of the right adrenal gland and a part of the diaphragm while infiltration of the major psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles was not verified (Figure 2). Post-operatively, she was admitted to the intensive care unit for close monitoring, where she remained for 48 h. Macroscopically, the tumour measured 16 cm × 12 cm × 10 cm in size but did not appear to invade the kidney, the adrenal gland, the fat and the ureter after complete histological examination. It felt elastic and smooth and the surface was white-brown. Solid and cystic areas with residues of haemorrhage ranging from 1.5-9 cm in size were described. Histologically, the tumour presented a predominantly fascicular pattern of growth and it was consisted of ovoid and spindle cells with nonspecific cellular limits and mild to moderate atypia. An increased rate of mitotic activity was also detected. Moreover, sites of haemorrhage, fibrous tissue, degeneration of small vessels and a hemangiopericytomatous pattern at peripheral regions were documented.

Figure 2 Primary retroperitoneal synovial sarcoma with solid and cystic areas and residues of haemorrhage.

Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated intense positive reaction for vimentin, strong nuclear expression for TLE-1, diffuse expression of bcl-2 protein, and less for CD99, cytokeratins AE1/AE3, epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin 19 (Figure 3). Also, a small percentage of the nuclei were weakly positive for p53 protein. Finally, neoplastic cells were completely negative for SMA, HHF-35, h-caldesmon, desmin, myoglobin, CD34, CD68, CD117 and S-100. Additional meticulous genetic analysis detected the presence of the characteristic chromosomal translocation t(X;18)(p11;q11). Therefore, the final histological diagnosis of the tumour was grade II monophasic RSS. Hospital stay was uneventful and she was discharged from the surgical department 8 d postoperatively. Furthermore, according to our institution’s multimodality tumor board, she was administered adjuvant irradiation monotherapy. Finally, the last 60 mo, the patient remains under intense monitoring with CT and MRI of the brain, lungs and the abdomen without signs of relapse.

Figure 3 Immunohistochemical stain. A: Immunohistochemical stain for TLE-1 with parallel strong nuclear expression for the marker (200× magnification); B: Immunohistochemical stain for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 with diffuse expression for the marker (200× magnification).

DISCUSSION

SS is described as an uncommon type of soft tissue sarcoma and represents approximately up to 10% of associated tumour category[17,18]. It mainly arises from sites with synovial tissue and 95% of the cases have been reported at the extremities, especially in young patients aged between 30 and 40 years old[2,5]. However, many SS cases located at the neck, tongue, abdominal wall, oesophagus and larynx have been described[19-21]. RSS accounts for 0.8%-8.3% of SS affected patients and approximately 21 cases have been detected so far since the first one in 1955, which was reported by Park and Tabah[1,17]. In this case report we refer to a female patient diagnosed with grade II monophasic RSS with sarcomatous spindle cell elements who was admitted at the department of surgery with predominant symptoms of increasing right lumbar pain and incomplete bowel obstruction.

RSs usually appear large in size due to the increased capacity of the retroperitoneal space. The majority of the tumours are asymptomatic at early stages and are incidentally diagnosed during imaging of the abdomen for other medical conditions. Symptomatic retroperitoneal tumours may present similar clinical manifestations with other abdominal neoplasms. Therefore, patients develop signs and symptoms of abdominal or back pain, GI, bowel or ureteral obstruction, anaemia and loss of weight[6,7]. In our case the patient was admitted with the presence of increasing right lumbar pain, vomiting, incomplete bowel obstruction, general malaise and relapse of symptoms of anaemia.

SS is further categorised in the biphasic type (with sarcomatous and epithelial components), the monophasic fibrous (with a predominance of sarcomatous spindle cell elements), the monophasic epithelial category and the poorly differentiated type respectively. Moreover, immunochemical examination is implemented for the differential diagnosis of SS from the other retroperitoneal masses as well as the presence of the characteristic t(X;18)(p11;q11) chromosomal translocation, which exists in more than 90% of the lesions and results in the production of a fusion protein responsible for the procedure of oncogenesis[6,9,10]. In our case, the SS was classified as grade II monophasic RSS with sarcomatous spindle cell elements. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated intense positive reaction for vimentin, strong nuclear expression for TLE-1, diffuse expression of bcl-2 protein, and less for CD99, cytokeratins AE1/AE3, epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin 19, whereas relevant chromosomal translocation was present.

The diagnosis of RS is controversial throughout classic examination. Advanced imaging techniques are always warranted. Spiral CT remains the most valuable diagnostic modality which depicts the tumour as well as the adjacent organs and reveals potential metastatic lesions in the liver, lungs or the peritoneal cavity[22,23]. Moreover, CT distinguishes intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal neoplasms and elucidates the composition of the tumour. CT guided biopsy, alternatively to US, for assessing the therapeutic response has also been reported. MRI with oral or intravenous contrast is another diagnostic tool which displays cystic, necrotic, solid and enhancing areas along with the patency of inferior vena cava[24]. T1 weighted MRI images describe the relationship of the tumour with other adjacent solid organs while T2 weighted images indicate potential muscular invasion or development of the tumour near the spine. Nevertheless, definite diagnosis is accomplished with the histological identification following the biopsy of the tumour[9,10]. Similarly, in our patient, abdominal U/S suggested the presence of a cystic mass or haematoma. CT scan identified a concentric, sharply marginated retro-peritoneal lesion which was displacing the right kidney and the lower edge of the liver with expansion to major psoas and quadratus lumborum.

The treatment of choice for RS is aggressive surgical resection of the tumour along with concomitant regional lymphadenectomy. Additional en bloc resection of the adjacent affected organs including the kidney, colon, bladder, pancreas and the small bowel is often implemented[25-28]. In cases of vascular invasion of the tumour, wide excision accompanied by vascular reconstruction may be performed[27,29-31]. The role of preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy remains uncertain. Potential advantage of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which reduces the size of the tumour and simplifies subsequent surgical operation, especially in large and high-grade tumours, has recently been reported[32,33]. In addition, patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy exhibited improved disease-free survival rates[34]. Radiation therapy alone has been implied as a complementary treatment modality to surgery either before or after the excision with no difference in survival rates[35,36]. Preoperative radiation is usually applied in highly selected cases with large tumours; however, some patients are presented with postoperative complications, such as wound infections. There are reports in the literature which suggest that neoadjuvant administration of chemotherapy combined with radiation may be beneficial, as well. Furthermore, as for SS, the results from chemotherapy remain controversial. Finally, recent publications support that excision of pulmonary and hepatic metastases may improve survival in certain patients[37]. The prognosis is really poor as the 5-year survival rate is only 20-29% and deteriorates when a high mitotic activity is detected. Local recurrence even after complete R0 surgical excision remains the most common cause of death[38].

CONCLUSION

In our case, we performed surgical resection of the mass with additional right nephrectomy and excision of the right adrenal gland as well as a part of the diaphragm. Post-operative course was uneventful and a month later, PET/CT scan of the whole body did not reveal any residues of the tumour; however, the patient was administered adjuvant irradiation therapy.