MRI manifestations of soft-tissue haemangiomas and accompanying reactive bone changes.
OBJECTIVE
Soft tissue haemangiomas are common benign vascular lesions that can be accompanied by reactive changes in the adjacent bone structure. This study aimed to discuss the MRI features of soft-tissue haemangiomas with an emphasis on changes in bone.


METHODS
The radiographic and MRI findings of 23 patients (9 males, 14 females; mean age 25 years; age range 2-46 years) with soft-tissue haemangiomas were analysed retrospectively. MR images were evaluated for location of the lesion, size, configuration, signal features, contrast patterns, proximity to adjacent bone and changes in the accompanying bone. Excisional biopsy was performed in 15 patients.


RESULTS
Radiographs demonstrated phleboliths in 8 patients (34%) and reactive bone changes in 4 (19%). On MRI, T₁ weighted images showed that most of the lesions were isointense or isohyperintense, as compared with muscle tissue; however, on T₂ weighted images all lesions appeared as hyperintense. Following intravenous gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) administration, homogeneous enhancement was observed in 3 lesions and heterogeneous enhancement was seen in 19. No enhancement was observed in one patient. Bone atrophy adjacent to the lesion was observed in four patients.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI is the most valuable means of diagnosing deep soft-tissue haemangiomas. Bone changes can accompany deeply situated haemangiomas; in four of our patients, we found atrophy of the bone adjacent to the lesion. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature regarding atrophy of the bone adjacent to a lesion.
Department of Radiology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey. aysin73@hotmail.com
A
A
Pourbagher
M A
MA
Pourbagher
B
B
Karan
G
G
Ozkoc
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA