title: Imaging diagnosis of abdominal and pelvic sarcomas.
abstract: Sarcomas of the abdomen and pelvis are rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasms that often remain undiagnosed until they attain large size. Complete tumour resection is associated with improved patient survival. Detection and delineation of the tumour, its extent and its relationship with surrounding tissues are important for surgical planning. Radiography, barium studies, and intravenous urography are of limited value in the imaging diagnosis of abdominal and pelvic sarcomas. Ultrasound is sensitive for detecting neoplasms larger than 6 cm. Computed tomography is useful for detection, defining extent, and predicting resectability of the primary tumour, evaluation of response to treatment, and detecting recurrence and metastasis. Sarcomas are predominantly large, poorly demarcated, heterogeneous masses of muscle density with haemorrhage or necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pui
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed