title: Radiology of soft tissue tumors.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging is the mainstay of diagnostic imaging for soft tissue masses, but plain film, ultrasound, and computed tomography all have roles. A subset of lesions has specific imaging features that enable a confident radiological diagnosis with appropriate clinical correlation. Many soft tissue masses have nonspecific appearances and should be considered for biopsy in a specialist center. When a biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis, careful multidisciplinary planning is essential to avoid contamination of unaffected tissue, leading to recurrence and unnecessary amputations. This article discusses radiological diagnosis, biopsy, and management of the soft tissue mass.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Vancouver General Hospital, Jim Pattison Pavilion, 899 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada. Electronic address: dr_pmallinson@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Paul I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Mallinson
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Vancouver General Hospital, Jim Pattison Pavilion, 899 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Vancouver General Hospital, Jim Pattison Pavilion, 899 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruce B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Vancouver General Hospital, Jim Pattison Pavilion, 899 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Munk
mesh_terms: D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009221:Myositis Ossificans / Q000175:diagnosis; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010819:Physician's Role; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Biopsy; Radiology; Sarcoma; Soft tissue tumor