Plain radiography, angiography, and computed tomography

Abstract

The imaging evaluation of a patient with a suspected soft tissue tumor requires a methodical approach that recognizes the benefits and limitations of the numerous imaging techniques that are available today. Consideration must be given to the financial costs and invasiveness of each technique balanced against the diagnostic reward. The temptation to routinely employ every technique in all patients should be resisted. Similarly, no examination should be reported in isolation without knowledge of relevant clinical details and results of prior investigations. Where possible, the prior investigations themselves should be available for review, as the appreciation of the significance of a new observation may well depend on a retrospective review of the previous studies [20]. In this chapter we discuss the role of plain radiography, angiography, and computed tomography (CT) in the management of a patient with a soft tissue mass, from detection and diagnosis through to the ultimate aim of medical management, a cure. It is beyond the scope of this book to discuss in detail the technology behind each technique. The reader is referred to subsequent chapters for an in-depth discussion of each type of soft tissue tumor.