Synovial sarcoma of the prostate with t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2)

A case of monophasic synovial sarcoma of the prostate in a 37-year-old man is reported. Histologically, the tumor was chiefly composed of uniform spin dle and oval cells, which often formed interlacing fascicles resembling tho se of fibrosarcoma. In some areas, the compact fascicles of tumor cells alt ernated with hypocellular myxoid tissue bearing a superficial resemblance t o peripheral nerve sheath tumors, whereas small portions of the tumor showe d a pericytomatous pattern consisting of polygonal cells arranged around di lated, thin-walled blood vessels. By immunohistochemistry, vimentin was det ected in most cells, and a focal reactivity for epithelial membrane antigen was also observed. The tumor cells, however, were negative for keratin, S- 100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, CD34, desmin, muscle-specific actin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in sit u hybridization (FISH) using the cultured tumor cells demonstrated a transl ocation t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2), an aberration specific for synovial sarcoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a primary prostatic synovial sarcoma confirmed by cytogenetic analysis.