title: Clinical presentation and CT/MRI findings of alveolar soft part sarcoma: a retrospective single-center analysis of 14 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a relatively rare malignant tumor and early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for ASPS are essential for a good prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively review the clinical presentation and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of ASPS so as to improve the accuracy of imaging diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with pathologically proven ASPS were enrolled. Their clinical and imaging findings were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the patients was 29 years (range, 13-37 years). Most tumors were located in the soft tissues of the trunk and lower limbs. The median maximal diameter of the masses was 91 mm. Thirteen masses presented with ovoid or irregular shapes. Eleven masses had less clear boundaries. Compared with the adjacent muscles, the masses were isodense or hypodense on CT, hypo-, iso-, or hyperintense on T1-weighted images, and heterogeneous hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Intense enhancement was seen after contrast agent administration, with prominent intra- or peri-tumoral feeders on CT or flow voids on MRI. By the end of the last follow-up, 13 patients had distant metastasis and three patients had local recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASPS should be included in the differential diagnosis when a bulky, heterogeneous soft tissue mass in the trunk and the lower limbs with intense enhancement after contrast administration and prominent intra- or peri-tumoral feeders on CT or flow voids on MRI is seen, particularly in young patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Diagnosis and Interventional Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Diagnosis and Interventional Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China Department of Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Su-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Diagnosis and Interventional Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Pei-Qiang
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Shao-Yan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China Department of Nuclear Medcine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, PR China fanwei_9798@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018234:Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alveolar soft part sarcoma; clinical presentation; computed tomography (CT); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)