title: Monophasic synovial sarcoma: a cytologic spectrum.
abstract: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a high-grade sarcoma that can be diagnosed in cytology with certainty only when it presents with a biphasic pattern. Monophasic SS (MSS), however, is a diagnostic consideration when a uniform spindle cell population is present. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a series of cytologic cases of MSS and its cytologic presentation. Twenty-one FNAs of histologically confirmed MSS were reviewed. Specimens consisted of tissue fragments and single cells containing scant granular cytoplasm, medium-sized nuclei, and coarse chromatin. A monotonous spindle pattern with comma-shaped nuclei was present in 5 cases. Sixteen cases contained oval and spindled nuclei. Eight of these specimens contained round nuclei, and 5 of these cases showed prominent nucleoli and cohesive clusters, reminiscent of biphasic SS. We conclude that a spectrum of cytologic findings can be seen in MSS, including a secondary population of cells with morphology usually typical of biphasic SS.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, New York, New York, USA. aewing@solarishs.org
authors.forename: C Alexander
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: Maureen F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zakowski
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014178:Translocation, Genetic