Rationale: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a soft tissue neoplasm that rarely occurs in the vertebral body and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with SS and vertebral lesions. SS often presents as a painless mass in the spine, which may undergo slow enlargement, resulting in sustained symptoms of neurologic deficit and pain. Due to the difficulty in differentiating between SS from other soft tissue tumors and metastatic tumors, careful histological confirmation is required for definite diagnosis. Furthermore, due to its malignancy, the appropriate treatment procedure for SS should be carefully considered.
Patient concerns: A 56-year-old female patient had low back pain. Radiological examination revealed bony erosion of the L-2 vertebral body, and no soft tissue mass around the lumbar spine.
Diagnosis: Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination revealed SS.
Interventions: The initial treatment of posterior laminectomy decompression and percutaneous vertebro plasty (PVP) was performed, however, this initial treatment course was inappropriate, but she eventually underwent L-2 complete resection and internal fixation. After the second surgery, she was treated by external beam radiation therapy.
Outcomes: operation radiotherapy was finally performed. No local recurrence in L-2 vertebral body or distant metastasis was found at 1-year follow up postoperation; the neurologic symptom gradually relieved, and no other symptom was noted. And no local recurrence in L-2 vertebral body and distant metastasis was found in 1 year follow up postoperation.
Lessons: Solitary spinal SS is extremely rare. Early surgery for total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy should be emphasized.