Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and local staging of primary bone tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate relationship of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis and local staging of primary bone tumors with histopathological and surgical outcome.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional comparative study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Radiology Department, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from December 1999 to March 2002.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty patients suspected of having primary bone tumors were selected. MRI scans were evaluated for local staging including intramedullary tumor length, cortical, soft tissue, neuro-vascular, joint and epiphyseal involvement. MR staging was compared with surgical and pathological staging and MR diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis considering benign and malignant tumors and specific diagnosis.

RESULTS

The study included 30 patients with age ranging from 5 - 75 years (mean 30.1 years). Twenty-three patients had malignant and 7 benign tumors. On MRI, 25 tumors were characterized as malignant and 2 tumors were false positive for malignancy.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging proved to be accurate in local staging of bone tumors and determination of the extent of disease in benign tumors.