Imaging of Bone Sarcomas and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

Abstract

Background In the diagnosis of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas, the continuous advancement of various imaging modalities has improved the detection of small lesions, surgical planning, assessment of chemotherapeutic effects, and, importantly, guidance for surgery or biopsy. Method This review was composed based on a PubMed literature search for the terms bone sarcoma, bone cancer and soft tissue sarcoma, imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, radiography, and radiomics covering the publication period 2005-2020. Results and Conclusion As discussed in this review, radiography, ultrasound, CT, and MRI all play key roles in the imaging evaluation of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. In daily practice, advanced MRI techniques complement standard MRI but remain underused, as they are considered time-consuming, technically challenging, and not reliable enough to replace biopsy and histology. PET/MRI and radiomics have shown promise regarding the imaging of sarcomas in the future. Key Points: Radiographs remain crucial in diagnostic imaging algorithms for sarcomas. US is an initial imaging study for the evaluation of superficial soft-tissue tumors. The role of CT continues to evolve as new techniques emerge. MRI allows the noninvasive evaluation of soft-tissue, osseous, and articular structures. Machine learning methods could improve personalized selection of therapy for patients with sarcoma. Citation Format Igrec J, Fuchsjäger MH. Imaging of Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2021; 193: 1171-1182.