Soft tissue tumor imaging in adults: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology-Guidelines 2023-overview, and primary local imaging: how and where?

OBJECTIVES: Early, accurate diagnosis is crucial for the prognosis of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. To this end, standardization of imaging algorithms, technical requirements, and reporting is therefore a prerequisite. Since the first European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) consensus in 2015, technical achievements, further insights into specific entities, and the revised WHO-classification (2020) and AJCC staging system (2017) made an update necessary. The guidelines are intended to support radiologists in their decision-making and contribute to interdisciplinary tumor board discussions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A validated Delphi method based on peer-reviewed literature was used to derive consensus among a panel of 46 specialized musculoskeletal radiologists from 12 European countries. Statements were scored online by level of agreement (0 to 10) during two iterative rounds. Either "group consensus," "group agreement," or "lack of agreement" was achieved. RESULTS: Eight sections were defined that finally contained 145 statements with comments. Overall, group consensus was reached in 95.9%, and group agreement in 4.1%. This communication contains the first part consisting of the imaging algorithm for suspected soft tissue tumors, methods for local imaging, and the role of tumor centers. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound represents the initial triage imaging modality for accessible and small tumors. MRI is the modality of choice for the characterization and local staging of most soft tissue tumors. CT is indicated in special situations. In suspicious or likely malignant tumors, a specialist tumor center should be contacted for referral or teleradiologic second opinion. This should be done before performing a biopsy, without exception. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The updated ESSR soft tissue tumor imaging guidelines aim to provide best practice expert consensus for standardized imaging, to support radiologists in their decision-making, and to improve examination comparability both in individual patients and in future studies on individualized strategies. KEY POINTS: • Ultrasound remains the best initial triage imaging modality for accessible and small suspected soft tissue tumors. • MRI is the modality of choice for the characterization and local staging of soft tissue tumors in most cases; CT is indicated in special situations. Suspicious or likely malignant tumors should undergo biopsy. • In patients with large, indeterminate or suspicious tumors, a tumor reference center should be contacted for referral or teleradiologic second opinion; this must be done before a biopsy.

Eosinophilic fasciitis (Shulman disease) with clinical, imaging and pathological correlation.

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a rare subacute fibrosing disorder of unknown aetiology, characterised by thickening of the muscular fascia and subcutaneous tissue, leading to swelling of limbs and trunk and sparing fingers and toes. Eosinophilic infiltration and degranulation may prompt tissue damage and consequent fibrosis due to the accumulation of collagen and extracellular matrix proteins. MRI is the best imaging modality for diagnosis, depicting fascial thickening and enhancement. MRI may also have a significant role in excluding alternative diagnosis and guiding the skin-muscle biopsy.We report a case of EF with clinical and pathological correlation, highlighting the diagnostic value of MRI for early diagnosis and further treatment.

Perilesional enhancement of liver cavernous hemangiomas in magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the occurrence rate of temporal perilesional parenchymal enhancement (PPE) associated with hepatic hemangiomas in a large consecutive series and to determine which aspects are associated with this observation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approved this retrospective study. A computerized search of the MRI database was performed for consecutive patients between January 2008 and January 2012. The study population included 513 liver hemangiomas in 224 patients (104 males and 120 females; mean age of 55.2 ± 13.5 years; age range 24-89 years). Two readers independently reviewed the frequency of PPE, size, speed of enhancement and location of each hemangioma. Marginal models with generalized estimating equation were used. Wald test was applied to verify if the model coefficients were significant. RESULTS: 80/513 (15.6%) hemangiomas showed PPE. The incidence of PPE was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in hemangiomas with Type1 speed of enhancement (51/80, 63.8%) than in those with Type2 or Type3. 66/80 (82.5%) hemangiomas with PPE were subcapsular (p < 0.05). Conversely, the majority (280/433, 64.7%) of hemangiomas without PPE were deep in location (p < 0.001). Lesser proportion of hemangiomas with PPE was located in segment IVa (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PPE is not uncommonly seen along with hepatic hemangiomas. This appearance is most frequently observed in rapidly enhancing small lesions with a subcapsular location.