Objective: The efficiency of implantable intra-arterial interventional chemotherapy before the operation for synovial sarcoma on limbs was evaluated.
Materials and methods: Drug delivery device (chemotherapy pumps) was implanted percutaneously for 36 patients, and the interventional chemotherapy was conducted for 3-4 cycles. The surgical resection was carried out after obvious improvement was observed by clinical and imaging examination. The evaluation standard for the efficiency of chemotherapy was tumor cell necrosis rate obtained from postoperative pathological test.
Results: The response rate (RR) of pain alleviation was 91% (32/36), and the RR of the changing of lesion imaging was 83% (30/36). Thirty cases received extensive tumor excision, and six cases received amputation because of poor response to tumor chemotherapy and local carcinelcosis. The postoperative pathological test showed 81% moderate and severe chemotherapy response (29/36). The average follow-up time was 39 months. There were three cases presenting with local tumor recurrence, and seven deaths due to pulmonary metastasis.
Conclusion: Intra-arterial interventional chemotherapy before operation for synovial sarcoma can effectively control pain. After chemotherapy, the imaging performance significantly changed, and tumor cells were necrotized extensively. The pathological changes were obvious.