The role of MR imaging in the diagnosis of alveolar soft part sarcoma: a report of 10 cases.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of alveolar soft part sarcoma using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

DESIGN

MRI studies of pathologically proven alveolar soft part sarcomas (ASPS) in ten patients were reviewed and compared with computed tomographic (CT) studies and angiograms.

PATIENTS

Ten patients presented with a soft tissue mass of the extremities, neck, axilla, or buttocks. MR images were obtained in all patients prior to surgical intervention, chemotherapy, or irradiation.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Although most soft tissue sarcomas are isointense relative to muscle or MRI T1-weighted images (T1WI), nine of the ten alveolar ASPS in the present study demonstrated high signal intensity on both T2 and T1WI. Flow voids were observed both at the core and at the margins of the tumors studied. Recognition of these characteristic MRI findings may lead to the early diagnosis of ASPS, especially when the clinical presentation is that of a slow-growing soft tissue mass in a young adult patient.