title: Imaging of sacral tumours.
abstract: All components of the sacrum (bone, cartilage, bone marrow, meninges, nerves, notochord remnants, etc.) can give rise to benign or malignant tumours. Bone metastases and intraosseous sites of haematological malignancies, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are the most frequent aetiologies, while primary bone tumours and meningeal or nerve tumours are less common. Some histological types have a predilection for the sacrum, especially chordoma and giant cell tumour. Clinical signs are usually minor, and sacral tumours are often discovered in the context of nerve root or pelvic organ compression. The roles of conventional radiology, CT and MRI are described and compared with the histological features of the main tumours. The impact of imaging on treatment decisions and follow-up is also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris, France. sophie.gerber@curie.net
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ollivier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leclère
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Missenard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brisse
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Pinieux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neuenschwander
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D012447:Sacrum / Q000473:pathology*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media