Soft tissue tumors: post-treatment imaging.

As the radiologic evaluation of soft tissue masses has changed dramatically with the advent of MR imaging, the effect of MR imaging is even more striking in the assessment of patients after treatment. In cases of local tumor recurrence, MR imaging has become the standard of care. Using a few basic principles, even small local recurrences can be detected accurately, and recurrence can be distinguished from postoperative or post-treatment change. This review presents a fundamental approach to the evaluation of patients, following treatment for soft tissue tumors and highlighting MR imaging.