Synovial sarcoma involving skull base - A retrospective analysis of diagnosis and treatment of 21 cases in one institution

To retrospectively review the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of 21 diagnosed with synovial sarcoma (SS) extending to skull base region and identify prognostic factors for local recurrence and distant metastasis. The clinical and pathological records of 21 synovial sarcoma cases involving skull base treated at Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated to Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, from 2003 to 2008 were reviewed. Parameters including clinical, radiographic, histological findings, and treatment modalities were analyzed. Prognostic factors influencing overall survival, local recurrence, and metastasis were identified. Categorical variables were compared between groups for local recurrence and distant metastasis by using 2-tailed Fisher exact test. The sample consisted of 8 males and 13 females with a median age of 23. 42.9% of cases showed skull base bone erosion with 9.5% of cases presenting intracranial tumor extension. 52.4% of cases died from recurrence or metastasis with a median survival time of 11 months. Orbital involvement, perineural and cranial invasion along with other factors were statistically significant for their impact on overall survival. Local recurrence was associated with tumors located in the infratemporal space (p = 0.01), perineural invasion (p = 0.001), pathological grade 3 (p = 0.005), and tumor size > 5 cm (p = 0.008). The aggressive behavior of skull base SS and its close proximity to vital structures make the diagnosis and management a challenge. The study reported high local recurrence rates despite surgical and postoperative radiotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not seem to affect distant metastasis rates. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.