Case report
Pericardial synovial sarcoma: 14-year survival with multimodality therapy

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2004.02.011Get rights and content

Abstract

We report a case of recurrent primary synovial sarcoma of the pericardium. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis for t(X,18) demonstrated the presence of the chimeric transcript SYT/SSX. Because of the rarity of this entity, optimal therapy is unknown. The prognosis of this tumor is very poor in previous reports. In this report, we present a case with five recurrences treated by a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The patient survives now for more than 14 years, the longest reported survival of a primary synovial sarcoma of the pericardium.

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Comment

Primary synovial sarcoma of the pericardium is extremely rare. In only four of the case reports, synovial sarcoma from cardiac tissue has the pericardium as its primary origin. Because of its rarity, little is known about survival, and adjuvant therapy is not standardized [1].

Broad surgical resection is the cornerstone of therapy. In this case, as in other reports, the presenting sign was cardiac tamponade, necessitating an urgent operation. A disease-free survival of 7 years was obtained after

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