Evaluation Of Soft Tissue Tumors Research Articles

A review of applications of MRI in soft tissue and bone tumors.

Due to excellent soft tissue contrast and multiplanar imaging capability, MRI is assuming a major role in recognition, staging, and treatment planning of soft tissue and bone tumors. Direct sagittal, coronal, and axial images permit assessment of intraosseous and extraosseous extension of tumors and their relationship to the joints and neurovascular structures, and detection of "skip" lesions. MRI allows improved detection of recurrent tumors in the presence of non-ferromagnetic metallic implants as compared to CT. In the evaluation of soft tissue tumors, MRI is more sensitive than CT and allows differentiation among fat, muscle, tendon, bone, and vascular structures based on signal characteristics. Over a period of 18 months, 100 soft tissue masses and bone tumors were evaluated using MRI. Spin echo sequences with T1 and T2 weighted images were most valuable in differentiating normal and abnormal tissues. Calculated comparative measurements of relaxation times showed no reliable difference between benign and malignant tumors.

Computed tomography in soft tissue disorders of the lower extremities.

Computed Tomography (CT) constitutes an important new imaging modality in the evaluation of soft tissue tumors. They are detectable by CT because their density is different from that of muscles and because they cause displacement of normal structures. CT was found to be useful in demonstrating the true extent of lesions in the soft tissue of the lower extremities of 24 patients as confirmed by examination of the surgically removed tumors. CT was also able to define the lesions' relation to and involvement with the surrounding tissue. We were not able to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions by CT. Generally, the specific attenuation values were not helpful in differentiation between various types of tumors. However, in cases of tumors such as lipomas, cysts and neurofibromas it may be of some use.