Metastatic synovial sarcoma to the skull base and orbit

PURPOSE: To report a case of metastatic synovial sarcoma to the parasellar area and orbit. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 43-year-old woman with a history of a right forearm synovial sarcoma treated with excision, radiation, and chemotherapy 16 months previously presented with blurred vision of the right eye, pain with eye movement, epistaxis, and a right superior division cranial nerve III palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a right parasellar and right orbital apex mass. RESULTS: Pathologic examination of the parasellar biopsy revealed metastatic synovial sarcoma. At 6-month follow-up, the neuro-ophthalmic examination was unchanged, and repeat magnetic resonance imaging showed no recurrence of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic synovial sarcoma should be added to the differential diagnosis of parasellar and orbital tumors. (C) 2002 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.