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Soft tissue tumours: imaging strategy

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Abstract

Vascular tumours and malformations, fibrous and fibrohistiocytic tumours and pseudotumours are the most common benign soft-tissue masses observed in children, and can be treated conservatively. Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most frequent malignant tumours, accounting for about half of soft tissue sarcomas. A child referred for a soft-tissue mass should ideally be managed by a multidisciplinary team and primary excision should be proscribed until a definite diagnosis has been established. Clinical examination, conventional radiography and US with Doppler represent the first-line examinations and are sometimes sufficient to make a diagnosis. In all other situations, MRI is mandatory to establish the aggressiveness and extension of the tumour. This technique provides the relevant data to guide the decision regarding tissue sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Institute Curie, 26 rue d’Ulm, Paris, 75005, France

    Hervé J. Brisse

  2. Department of Paediatric Oncology, Institute Curie, Paris, France

    Daniel Orbach

  3. Department of Pathology, Institute Curie, Paris, France

    Jerzy Klijanienko

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  1. Hervé J. Brisse
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  2. Daniel Orbach
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  3. Jerzy Klijanienko
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Correspondence to Hervé J. Brisse.

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Brisse, H.J., Orbach, D. & Klijanienko, J. Soft tissue tumours: imaging strategy. Pediatr Radiol 40, 1019–1028 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-010-1592-z

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