Cervical synovial sarcoma at the bifurcation of the carotid artery

Abstract

Cervical synovial sarcoma has been reported in only 15 cases; in none of these was there any association with a vascular structure. A patient with cervical synovial sarcoma encompassing the bifurcation of the left carotid artery underwent a left radical neck dissection, including excision of the left external carotid artery and the hypoglossal nerve. The tumor was dissected away from the common carotid and internal carotid arteries. Although the fibrous pseudocapsule of the tumor had not involved the fibrous adventitia of the carotid arteries. Radiation therapy with 6000 rads tumor dose was administered to a wide local field. There is no evidence of recurrence 1 year postoperatively. Histologic and ultrastructural findings were similar to those reported previously in a case of synovial sarcoma of an extremity.