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1. Fleshy Cancerous Growth in Soft (Synovial) Tissue
2. Synovial Sarcoma What is it?
What causes it?
What are the symptoms of it?
How is it diagnosed?
How can it be treated ?
3. Synovial Sarcoma is… A malignant tumor of the soft tissues, usually around the joints
Synovial is a tissue found around the tendons
Sarcoma is cancer of connective tissue
4. Causes of it are… Generally unknown
Some studies suggest that genetic alterations are key in formation
What happens in this genetic alteration is a:
rearrangement in chromosome material between X & number 18
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which changes position and function of genes, causing a fusion of genes; a.k.a “fusion transcript”
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This abnormal fusion transcript involves two genes which creates a new gene
5. And the symptoms are… Deep-seated swelling or mass
Mass that may/not be accompanied by pain
Limping or difficulty using legs, arms, hands or feet
The symptoms may resemble other conditions like arthritis and bursitis
6. Diagnosed by… A biopsy = most conclusive!
X-rays: can distinguish benign from malignant tumors
MRI: assess size and extent of mass
CAT scan: shows detailed images of any part of the body, more detail than X-ray
Bone scans: can determine cause of bone pain or inflammation
7. Specifics of bone scans… To have the scan, you must first have a radioactive substance called a radionuclide injected into your blood stream.
The radionuclide travels through the blood and collects in your bones. More of it tends to collect in areas where there is a lot of activity in the bone.
'Activity' means the bone is breaking down, or repairing itself. These areas of activity are picked out by the camera. They are commonly called 'hot spots'.
8. Treatments Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
Angiogenesis inhibitors
9. Surgery Limb-sparing: when the tumor CAN be removed, all of the tissue involved with the tumor are taken out, while unaffected tendons, nerves, vessels are left in the body
Amputation: when the tumor CANNOT be removed because it involves the nerves and blood vessels
10. Radiation Therapy Kills cancer cells and shrinks tumors using high energy rays
Sometimes used in conjunction with surgery
Rarely used as treatment for primary tumor
11. Chemotherapy A drug treatment that interferes with the cancer cell’s ability to grow and reproduce
Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells and shrink tumors
12. Systemic treatment Introduced into the bloodstream and travels through the body to kill cancer cells
Chemotherapy may be given:
As a pill to swallow
As an injection into the muscle or fat tissue
Intravenously, directly into the bloodstream
Intrathecally, directly into the spine with a needle
13. Angiogenesis inhibitors Substances that may be able to prevent the growth of tumors by blocking formation of new blood vessels that feed the tumors
14. To sum it up… Synovial sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs most often around joints of legs and arms (1% of childhood cancers)
Pain, tenderness, and swelling are the most common symptoms
Causes are generally unknown, but studies have shown that genetic alterations may cause this cancer
The stage of the tumor suggests which form of treatment is appropriate and amputation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and angiogenesis inhibitors are possible options