The businesswoman Vera Viel 48, wife of presenter Rodrigo Faro 50, announced, this Thursday (10), a rare and malignant tumor on her left thigh, called synovial sarcoma . The confirmation came after a series of recent tests to investigate a nodule.
According to National Cancer Institutefrom the United States (USA), synovial sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects soft tissues, such as muscles or ligaments. It is often found on the arms, legs or foot, near joints such as the wrist or ankle. It can also form in soft tissue in the lung or abdomen.
This type of cancer is rare. In the USA, it is responsible for 5% to 10% of soft tissue tumors. For every million people, one to two are diagnosed with synovial sarcoma per year. In Brazil, there is no official data on the incidence of the tumor.
It is not yet known exactly what causes this type of cancer, but, according to Cleveland Clinica reference academic medical center in the USA, it may be associated with mutations in chromosomes (structures in your cells that contain all your genes), which cause them to separate and, when reassembled, form in the wrong way. This mutation can cause cells to not work as they should.
Symptoms of synovial sarcoma
Synovial sarcoma develops gradually over time and can take up to two years to be detected. During this period, according to the medical center, the patient may not have symptoms. Subsequently, clinical manifestations may appear in the affected region, such as:
- Lump or nodule;
- Numbness;
- Pain;
- Swelling.
When noticing these symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice to investigate the cause, as the symptoms can be confused with other conditions that affect the joints, such as arthritis or bursitis.
How can synovial sarcoma be diagnosed?
Diagnosis of synovial sarcoma can be made through physical examination, analysis of symptoms and health history. In addition, imaging tests such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and computed tomography may be requested.
If nodules are detected in the affected region, a biopsy may be performed. In this procedure, the professional takes a small sample of tissue from the lump and sends it to a pathologist, who will analyze the cells under a microscope to confirm whether or not it is a tumor.
How is synovial sarcoma treated?
Treatment for synovial sarcoma depends on the stage of the tumor. In early cases, when it has not yet spread to other regions, it can be removed by surgery. In some cases, radiation therapy may be performed before the procedure to kill the malignant cells.
Chemotherapy is indicated when synovial sarcoma cannot be completely removed by surgery or when the tumor has already spread.
This content was originally published in Understand what synovial sarcoma is, a rare tumor diagnosed in Vera Viel on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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