Learning objectives
Describe and illustrate the radiological characteristics of soft tissue sarcomas located in the abdomen,
pelvis and abdominal wall.
Background
Sarcomas are a large and diverse group of malignant tumours of mesenchymal origin.
It can be divided in soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas.
Soft tissue sarcomas affect all ages and can arise anywhere in the body.
Represent less than 1% of malignant tumours.
Those sarcomas that arise in the abdomen and pelvis can appear in retroperitoneum,
peritoneal cavity and abdominal wall.
When a mass is discovered in the retroperitoneum,
soft-tissue sarcoma should be considered at the top of the differential diagnosis if the mass...
Findings and procedure details
We review the clinical and radiological findings of the sarcomas located in the abdomen,
pelvis and abdominal wall,
showing the most representative cases of our hospital in the last 5 years.
1.
Radiologic Evaluation of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas
Ultrasonography may be used as an initial technique during the evaluation of patients with abdominal complaints or palpable abdominal wall masses.
Computed Tomography (CT) is the most widely used cross-sectional imaging modality for the abdomen and pelvis because of its availability,
ease of use,
and capability to get...
Conclusion
Knowing the spectrum of common and uncommon soft-tissue sarcomas arising in the abdomen and pelvis
is important to establish an accurate working differential diagnosis.
A careful evaluation of preoperative images is necessary to plan a surgical resection.
Determine the relationship of the tumour to adjacent solid viscera,
bowel,
vasculature,
and the abdominal wall is very important.
In general,
biopsy is necessary for all masses that are not clearly liposarcoma,
because the imaging features overlap and are not specific to a particular tumour type.
References
1.
Ghadimi MP,
Al-Zaid T,
Madewell J,
et al.
Diagnosis,
management,
and outcome of patients with dedifferentiated liposarcoma systemic metastasis.
Ann Surg Oncol 2011;18(13):3762–3770.
2.
Angela D.
Levy,
Maria A.
Manning,
Waddah B.
Al-Refaie,
Markku M.
Miettinen.
Soft-Tissue Sarcomas of the Abdomen and Pelvis: Radiologic-Pathologic Features,
Part 1.
Common Sarcomas. RadioGraphics 2017; 37:462–483.
3.
Angela D.
Levy,
Maria A.
Manning,
Markku M.
Miettinen.
Soft-Tissue Sarcomas of the Abdomen and Pelvis: Radiologic-Pathologic Features,
Part 2.
Uncommon Sarcomas. RadioGraphics 2017; 37:797–812
4.
Tallini G,
Erlandson RA,
Brennan...