Synovial sarcoma (SS) is one of the most common soft-tissue sarcomas in adolescents and young patients. Despite it’s name, synovial sarcoma does not arise from synovial tissue. As with the majority of soft tissue sarcomas, the origin of development is still unknown. The most common clinical presentation of this tumor is in the form of a slow-growing mass in the soft tissues of the lower extremity, especially around the knee and ankle. Though the tumors almost always occur near joints, they can metastasize into the lungs and other major organs (Ferrari, 2012). This specific type of sarcoma has survival rates of 50-60% at 5 years and 40-50% at 10 years. The survival rate of these patients has risen throughout the past 20 years due to treatment with primary radical surgery, along with chemotherapy and radiation (Vargas, 2014, p.1). Current research is also giving oncologists, as well as those affected by this disease, a better understanding of what causes this rare soft-tissue sarcoma.…show more content… Though the optimal treatment to SS remains to be determined, current research has shown that the vast majority of oncologists agree that 3 types of treatment can be used for those with synovial sarcoma: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. In most cases, chemotherapy is used first and radiotherapy is used along with one or more surgeries to remove the cancerous cells following (Soole, F et al., 2014, p. 1387). This report was written to inform the reader of the different treatment plans available, as well as those being trialed today, to patients suffering from synovial
