Jenner G, Söderlund V, Bauer H F, Brosijö O
Department of Radiology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Acta Radiol. 1996 Mar;37(2):140-4. doi: 10.1177/02841851960371P129.
Our purpose was to evaluate how MR imaging depicts the vascular fibrofatty structure of hemangiomas.
MR images of 16 histologically proven skeletal muscle hemangiomas were reviewed retrospectively in a nonblinded manner. One patient was examined at 0.5 T, 9 at 1.0 T, and 6 at 1.5 T, and the imaging protocols varied.
All lesions were lobulated/tubular. Signal characteristics of fat were seen in 13 lesions as lace-like thin septa within or around the tumor. All 16 studies exhibited a hyperintense signal on T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) (n=15) or T1-weighted fast fat suppressed inversion recovery SE images (n=1). Postcontrast images showed marked signal enhancement in parts of the areas, both of high and low T2-weighted signal. Surgical staging based on MR images was correct in all lesions.
MR images display the characteristic vascular fibrofatty structure of hemangiomas and may allow correct diagnosis.
