Work

Unique case of metastatic synovial sarcoma to the breast: Case report and review of the literature

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Synovial sarcoma is a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer primarily affecting young adults, and metastasis to the breast from a primary tumor in the extremities is exceedingly rare. We report a rare case of right knee synovial sarcoma with metastasis to the left breast occurring five years after initial diagnosis. This work has been reported in line with the SCARE 2023 criteria [20]. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 36-year-old female who developed metastatic left breast sarcoma five years after her initial diagnosis of right knee synovial sarcoma, which was treated with wide local excision. She underwent a left partial mastectomy. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful. A PET-CT scan performed during her 16-month follow-up period showed no evidence of metastasis or recurrence. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case describes a rare instance of synovial sarcoma metastasizing to the breast, highlighting the importance of including metastatic disease in the differential diagnosis of breast masses, especially in patients with a history of malignancy. The case was initially misdiagnosed as epithelioid leiomyoma, underscoring the diagnostic challenge due to overlapping features. Diagnosis was confirmed through cytological comparison with the primary knee tumor and immunohistochemistry. With only seven similar cases reported in the literature, there are no established guidelines for diagnosis or treatment of metastasis breast sarcoma. CONCLUSION: Due to the lack of standardized guidelines for managing breast metastases of synovial sarcoma, a multidisciplinary approach incorporating systemic therapy, surgery, and close surveillance is essential for personalized treatment.

Source: International Journal of Surgery Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2025.111567

Authors: Lara AlKhelaiwy, Faris AlSalamah, Abdulmohsen AlKushi, Khalid AlHajri

Institutions: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090