Translational research in diagnosis and management of soft tissue tumours.
Finding a soft tissue mass in the superficial regions is a common event in daily clinical practice. Correct management of the diagnostic process is crucial to avoid blunders. Diagnosis is posed by pathology, although both imaging and a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms play an important a role in the characterization, staging and follow-up of soft tissue masses. Cellular and molecular mechanisms can explain either the development of chemo-resistance and the underlying pre- and post-surgery metastasis formation. These are mandatory to improve prognosis and unveil novel parameters predicting therapeutic response. Imaging mainly involves ultrasound and MR and is fundamental not only in diagnosis but also in the first step of therapy: the biopsy. Novel imaging techniques like Ultrasound Elastosonography, Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR imaging (DCE), Diffusion Weighted MR imaging (DWI) and MR Spectroscopy (MRS) are discussed. This paper aims at reviewing and discussing pathological methods and imaging in the diagnosis of soft tissue masses underscoring that the most appropriate treatment depends on advanced molecular and radiological studies.
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Eugenio
E
Rimondi
Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Maria Serena
MS
Benassi
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Alberto
A
Bazzocchi
Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Alba
A
Balladelli
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Giancarlo
G
Facchini
Interventional Angiographic Radiology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Rossi
Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France.
Sophie
S
Taieb
Research Department, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy. Daniel.vanel@ior.it.
Daniel
D
Vanel
D000818:Animals; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
Biomarkers; Magnetic resonance imaging; Molecular imaging; Sarcoma; Signalling pathways; Ultrasound elastosonography