Imaging of Soft Tissue Tumors (PDF)

Soft tissue tumors are a rare pathology and until the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, radiologists were not familiar with this uncommon pathology. Because of their rarity, multicentric sutdies are necessary to collect statistically relevant numbers of tumors and to assess the value of new imaging modalities in detection, staging, grading, tissue characterization, and posttreatment follow-up of soft tissue tumors. MRI potentials are most promising due to the highest contrast resolution and multiplanar capabilities of the method. This book is the reflectin of the work of a multicentric European Study Group of more than 30 co-investigators which collected more than 800 cases of soft tissue tumors. Experts on medical imaging and co-investigators contributed to the realisation of this book. In a first part, value of different imaging techniques is assessed while in a second part different tumors are described with special emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging. The extensive material collected and the expertise of the contributors has to be a guarantee that this "state-of-the-art" book of medical imaging of soft tissue tumors wiil help radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, and oncologists and particularly our patients because they deserve the best preoperative evaluation, the most adequate therapy, and the most suited follow-up.