Synovial Sarcomas: symptoms, causes and treatments

Symptoms of a Synovial Sarcoma

Symptoms of sarcoma in the foot and ankle vary. In some cases, the sarcoma is a visible lump and can look much like a benign ganglion cyst. The mass may have been slowly growing for months, years, or even decades. Some sarcomas cause no pain while others are painful right from the outset.

How is soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed?

UFAI physicians are expertly trained at identifying all types of masses on your feet and ankles. If your doctor suspects that your cyst is, in fact, a soft tissue sarcoma, he will use MRI imaging to see the size and depth of the mass.

MRIs are also used for guiding biopsies, checking the tumor's response to treatments, and observing the disease progression.

A simple X-ray may also be used to study large, deep, soft tissue masses that are fixed to the bone.

Treatment of soft tissue Sarcoma

If your UFAI physician determines that you have a soft tissue sarcoma, he will most likely refer you to an oncologist, a doctor who specializes in cancer treatments.

The oncologists' main goal is to control the local and distant spread of the tumor with the least amount of disruption of your quality of life. The key is removing the tumor through surgery.

Treatment options varying depending on several factors, including:

• Size, grade, and stage of the sarcoma

• Patient’s age and general health

• Speed as which cancer cells are growing and dividing

• Whether all of the cancer was removed in surgery

• Whether cancer has recurred

Radiation and Chemotherapy are often combined with surgery to lower the risk of recurrence. Radiation and chemotherapy can be administered either before or after the tumor is removed. The timing of the therapy depends upon the tumor site and the doctor's judgment.

Your oncologist will tell you how important it is to keep your follow-up visits after treatment. Tumors that come back may cause a serious problem and it’s best to catch them early.

UFAI, the Right Choice for your Foot and Ankle Care

The physicians at University Foot and Ankle Institute are experts at identifying masses of the foot and ankle. We have the latest technologies available to ensure an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment selection.