[Magnetic resonance imaging and radiography for diagnosis of lower limb osteosarcoma: a comparative study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for lower limb osteosarcoma by comparing the findings between X-ray and MRI.


METHODS
Fifteen surgically or pathologically confirmed patients with lower limb osteosarcoma (11 males and 4 females) underwent both plain and enhanced MRI (with CT scanning in 4 cases) in addition to radiography, and the findings were compared.


RESULTS
The diagnostic accuracy of both MRI and X-ray film was 100%. Compared with X-ray, MRI was capable of clear display of the lesion extent, perpendicular periosteal reaction, the two layers of Codman's triangle and the skip lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Plain X-ray film provides a convenient and practical diagnostic modality for lower limb osteosarcoma, but MRI has better performance in clearer display of the tumor range and identification of early-stage lesions.
Huang
Hui
H
Diagnostic Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. hhui0913@sina.com
Chen
Yan-ping
YP
Cao
Guo-hong
GH
Lin
Zhi-chun
ZC
D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging