Benign and malignant soft tissue mass: magnetic resonance imaging criteria for discrimination

Abstract

Objective: Determine MRI features to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions.

Material and method: The Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken in the 5-year period (2003-2007) of 85 patients with benign and malignant soft tissue masses were analyzed. The criteria for discrimination were based on size, origin, signal homogeneity on T1- and T2-weighted, perilesional edema or invasion, hemorrhage, necrosis, and bone and neurovascular involvements.

Result: There were 50 benign and 35 malignant lesions. Eighty-two lesions had histologic proof while three lesions had MRI characteristics of benign lipoma.

Conclusion: No single MRI feature was diagnostic for any soft tissue tumors in the present study. However, three individual MRI features were statistically significant for differentiation between benign and malignant soft tissue masses (p < 0.05). The features that favor malignancy were heterogeneous signal on T2-weighted, perilesional edema or invasion, and necrosis in the masses.