Imaging helps in diagnosis of musculoskeletal masses

September 5, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Imaging helps in diagnosis of musculoskeletal masses Lack of specific clinical symptoms and misinterpreted radiological findings can delay diagnosis of tumors in extremities BY KLAUS STROBEL, M.D., THOMAS HANY, M.D., AND PATRICK VEIT-HAIBACH, M.D. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary malignant musculoskeletal tumors are an inhomogeneous group of lesions originating from mesenchymal tissues. Soft-tissue sarcomas can derive from fatty tissue (liposarcoma), muscles (leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma), connective tissue (fibrosarcoma), blood vessels (angiosarcoma), and neurogenic tissue (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, malignant schwannoma). Bone sarcomas arise from either bony tissue (osteosarcoma) or cartilage (chondrosarcoma). Sarcomas are relatively rare compared with colon cancers, bronchial tumors, or malignant breast lesions. The incidence of sarcoma is about one or two new cases per 100,000 individuals per year. Osteosarcomas and the Ewing's sarcoma family, which includes peripheral neuroectodermal tumors, are important childhood cancers. Adults most often present with osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma.

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