Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pleura: Five cases confirmed by the presence of SYT-SSX fusion transcript

Marie Christine Aubry, Julia A. Bridge, Robert Wickert, Henry D. Tazelaar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study reports five cases of primary pleural monophasic synovial sarcomas and assesses the role of the SYT-SSX fusion transcript in the differential diagnosis. Patients had a mean age of 47 years with no gender predilection. Chest pain and pleural-based masses with effusions characterized the clinical presentations. Each patient underwent a complete surgical resection of the mass. The mean follow-up was 9 months, available in four patients. They were all alive, with no evidence of disease. Histologically, neoplasms were composed of densely packed fusiform cells focally alternating with less cellular areas. No epithelial differentiation was identified at the hematoxylin and eosin level. Keratin and epithelial membrane antigen reactivity was focal and present in four and two tumors, respectively. There was no immunoreactivity for CD34. RT-PCR studies for the presence of a SYT-SSX1 or SYT-SSX2 fusion transcript were positive in every tumor. In comparison, 10 localized fibrous tumors were immunohistochemically negative for keratin and epithelial membrane antigen and positive for CD34. A SYT-SSX fusion transcript was not identified in any of five localized fibrous tumors tested. Identification of the synovial sarcoma-specific chimeric transcript (SYT-SSX1 or SYT-SSX2), in conjunction with immunoperoxidase studies, can be extremely helpful in identifying cases of pleural monophasic synovial sarcoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)776-781
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Surgical Pathology
Volume25
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Localized fibrous tumor
  • Malignant mesothelioma
  • Pleuropulmonary blastoma
  • SYT-SSX fusion transcript
  • Smooth muscle tumor
  • Synovial sarcoma
  • Thymoma
  • Translocation t(X;18)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Surgery
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pleura: Five cases confirmed by the presence of SYT-SSX fusion transcript'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this