Usefulness of MR imaging in assessment of tumor extent of aggressive fibromatosis.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the usefulness of MR imaging for aggressive fibromatoses in order to determine tumor extent.


METHODS
17 lesions of 16 patients were examined with a 1.5-Tesla MR unit with unenhanced and gadolinium-enhanced T1WI, and T2WI. We retrospectively reviewed the MR features.


RESULTS
The tumor had a smooth margin in 41% of cases, while an irregular margin was present in 59%. A low signal intensity band (LSB) followed a normal muscle tendon or fascia. LSBs were seen in all of the lesions with an irregular margin, but not in those with a smooth margin. LSB resembled thickened or uneven tendons. Five of the seven lesions with LSB had a positive surgical margin at the LSB on pathological feature, and they recurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of LSBs on MR images is important for the determination of tumor extent, which allows the surgical method to be decided and postoperative recurrence predicted.
Tanaka
Hiroko
H
Department of Radiology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Japan.
Harasawa
Arimi
A
Furui
Shigeru
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA