<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This review outlines a practical approach to the everyday assessment of both non-neoplastic and neoplastic soft tissue tumors, focusing on ultrasound examination, though emphasizing the added benefit of magnetic resonance imaging in certain instances. Ultrasound approach and assessment, practical scenarios, reporting, biopsy, and follow-up are covered, as well as the criteria used to distinguish benign from malignant tumors. The potential benefits and current limitations of elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in assessment are also addressed. Examples of commonly encountered soft tissue tumors are shown. Ultrasound can characterize most soft tissue masses based on their ultrasound appearance alone. Following ultrasound examination, three potential scenarios usually exist in clinical practice: (a) confident regarding diagnosis, (b) indeterminate mass with no evidence of malignancy, and (c) indeterminate mass with possibility of malignancy. A diagnostic pathway for each of these scenarios is provided. Magnetic resonance imaging is generally not helpful in further characterizing masses which are indeterminate on ultrasound assessment, though it is helpful in addressing other issues such as exact tumor location and neurovascular bundle involvement that may not be fully resolved on ultrasound examination. In these situations, magnetic resonance imaging examination can be tailored to address those specific questions that have not been adequately addressed on ultrasound examination. In this sense, both examinations are highly complementary. Tips for undertaking magnetic resonance imaging examinations are provided.</p>
</abstract>

This review outlines a practical approach to the everyday assessment of both non-neoplastic and neoplastic soft tissue tumors, focusing on ultrasound examination, though emphasizing the added benefit of magnetic resonance imaging in certain instances. Ultrasound approach and assessment, practical scenarios, reporting, biopsy, and follow-up are covered, as well as the criteria used to distinguish benign from malignant tumors. The potential benefits and current limitations of elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in assessment are also addressed. Examples of commonly encountered soft tissue tumors are shown. Ultrasound can characterize most soft tissue masses based on their ultrasound appearance alone. Following ultrasound examination, three potential scenarios usually exist in clinical practice: (a) confident regarding diagnosis, (b) indeterminate mass with no evidence of malignancy, and (c) indeterminate mass with possibility of malignancy. A diagnostic pathway for each of these scenarios is provided. Magnetic resonance imaging is generally not helpful in further characterizing masses which are indeterminate on ultrasound assessment, though it is helpful in addressing other issues such as exact tumor location and neurovascular bundle involvement that may not be fully resolved on ultrasound examination. In these situations, magnetic resonance imaging examination can be tailored to address those specific questions that have not been adequately addressed on ultrasound examination. In this sense, both examinations are highly complementary. Tips for undertaking magnetic resonance imaging examinations are provided.

Practical approach to ultrasound of soft tissue tumors and the added value of MRI: how I do it

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This review outlines a practical approach to the everyday assessment of both non-neoplastic and neoplastic soft tissue tumors, focusing on ultrasound...

Practical approach to ultrasound of soft tissue tumors and the added value of MRI: how I do it

Article Category: Review paper

Published Online: Nov 23, 2023

Page range: e299 - e312

Received: Jun 21, 2023

Accepted: Sep 28, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2023.0036

Keywords
soft tissue tumor, ultrasound, MRI, elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound

© 2023 James Francis Griffith, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Practical approach to ultrasound of soft tissue tumors and the added value of MRI: how I do it

Article Category: Review paper

Published Online: Nov 23, 2023

Page range: e299 - e312

Received: Jun 21, 2023

Accepted: Sep 28, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2023.0036

Keywordssoft tissue tumor, ultrasound, MRI, elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound

© 2023 James Francis Griffith, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
soft tissue tumor, ultrasound, MRI, elastography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound