Synovial sarcoma of the neck

Synovial sarcomas are rare malignant neoplasms commonly arising from articular tendons and joint capsules. Despite being termed synovial sarcomas due to their histologic similarity to the synovium, they rarely involve a synovial structure. Although they mostly occur in lower extremities, rare cases originating from the thorax, abdomen, head, and neck have also been reported. A 60-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of swelling in left side of the neck. CT revealed a mass of approximately 6.5x5 cm, occupying the left parapharyngeal space and left submandibular fossa and protruding into the pharynx lumen. The lesion was non-infiltrative, well circumscribed, and uniformly ovoid. The patient underwent surgery, and subsequent pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Despite their rarity, synovial sarcomas should be considered, along with Ewing’s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and other sarcomas, in the differential diagnosis of a large juxtaarticular mass containing calcifications.