Multiparametric Evaluation of Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Current Perspectives and Future Directions

Abstract

Imaging plays an essential role in diagnosing and managing musculoskeletal soft tissue masses. It provides anatomic details and aids in the characterization and prognostication of tumors. Advanced imaging is also essential for assessing treatment response and post-treatment surveillance. Several novel imaging techniques are now available that provide additional functional and metabolic information about these tumors. This additional information may be used to predict the biological behavior of the tumors and effectively assess the treatment response for optimizing their management. This article focuses on multiparametric imaging evaluation of soft tissue masses with a discussion of advancements in the domains of ultrasound, MRI, and CT imaging and how these may be helpful in pre- and post-treatment assessment of soft tissue tumors. Current perspectives on the role of diffusion imaging, perfusion imaging, and MR spectroscopy have been highlighted, and future directions of metabolic imaging are briefly outlined. As these advances hold a promising role in the multidisciplinary management of soft tissue sarcomas, it is important for the radiologist to be familiar with the latest advances and developments in imaging soft tissue tumors.