European Journal of Radiology
Volume 53, Issue 3 , Pages 500-505, March 2005

Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors

  • Nermin Tuncbilek

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Present address: Kocasinan Mah. Dr. Sadýk Ahmet Cad., Olin Sadik Uzunoglu 2 Apt. Daire 4/13, 22030 Edirne, Turkey. Tel.: +90 542 3165342; fax: + 90 284 2356028.
    • ,
  • Hakki Muammer Karakas

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
    • ,
  • Ozerk Omur Okten

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey

Received 12 January 2004; received in revised form 9 April 2004; accepted 14 April 2004.

Abstract 

Purpose: The value of the dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in differentiating benign and malignant soft tissue tumors was investigated.

Materials and methods: Turbo FLASH DCE-MRI was performed on 22 subjects (2–74 years) with soft tissue tumors. Enhancement in the first min (Emax/1), second min (Emax/2) and maximum peak enhancement (Emax), and steepest slope were calculated. Discriminant analyses were performed to reveal parametric differences of benign and malignant lesions.

Results: Diagnosis of benign (N = 10) tumors were hemangioma (n = 3), neurogenic tumor (n = 3) lipoma (n = 2), giant cell tumor (n = 1) and desmoid (n = 1), whereas malignant lesions (N = 12) were classified as liposarcoma (n = 5), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 5) and synovial sarcoma (n = 2). For malignant lesions Emax/1 was 65–198%, Emax/2 was 65–145%, Emax was 78–198%, and steepest slope was 1.45–4.06. For benign lesions these values were 4–98%, 5–105%, 7–125% and 0.67–2.57, respectively. To determine the relation between the variables analysed, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. Emax was found to be highly correlated with other variables (rxy>0.86, P < 0.0001). Consequently, this variable was excluded from the discriminant analysis. In order to determine discrimination of malignant and benign tumors using Emax/1, Emax/2, and steepest slope of the enhancement curve logistic regression was applied to the above mentioned data. When combined these parameters had a 95.5% of overall accuracy in classifying benign and malignant lesions (P = 0.004).

Conclusion: DCE-MRI parameters that thought to be the surrogate markers of tumoral microcirculation and tissue perfusion provides a specific preoperative diagnosis. Dynamic imaging parameters are therefore advocated for monitoring the effect of chemotherapy in soft tissue tumors.

Keywords:  Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI, Semiquantitative enhancement parameters, Soft tissue tumors, Differential diagnosis

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0720-048X(04)00137-8

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2004.04.012

European Journal of Radiology
Volume 53, Issue 3 , Pages 500-505, March 2005

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution