Despite its name, it does not originate from the synovial tissue within joints, although it can occur close to these structures.
It can affect individuals of any age, but commonly presents in adolescents and young adults, with a slightly higher prevalence in males. The exact cause is unknown and it is not associated with specific risk factors. Key features include:
- Location: synovial sarcomas frequently develop in the lower extremities, particularly around the knee joint, but can also occur in the arms, hands, feet, trunk, or head and neck region.
- Tendency to invade adjacent tissues: they can invade nearby structures such as tendons, muscles and nerves, which can affect treatment and prognosis.
- Unique genetic abnormality: most synovial sarcomas carry a translocation between chromosomes X and 18, forming a fusion gene known as SYT-SSX. This gene fusion is a hallmark of the disease and aids diagnosis.
