Soft Tissue Mass of Extremity: Investigation of MRI Diagnostic Strategy

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the MR diagnostic approach of soft tissue masses of extremities to improve the diagnostic accuracy. MRI data of 58 patients with soft tissue masses of the extremities confirmed by postoperative pathology (PA) were collected. In order to deepen the understanding of the MRI findings of soft tissue masses of the extremities, complete the diagnostic strategy and improve the diagnostic accuracy, the lesions were divided into cystic and non-cystic masses according to the characteristics of Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals, the imaging features were analyzed to locate the lesions and the biochemical components within the lesions were accurately estimated, the imaging-pathological relationship was explored by comparing the histological findings of the study. The location of soft tissue masses was accurate in MRI, including intramuscular, intermuscular, and subcutaneous. The characteristic biochemical components within the lesions estimated accurately in MRI included fat, mucus/protein, hemorrhage or hemosiderin, simple water, etc., which were basically consistent with pathological findings. MRI results of cystic and non-cystic mass findings are consistent with pathology. There were 29 cases of cystic mass, the coincidence rate of MRI diagnosis was 27/29, 29 cases of non-cystic mass, the coincidence rate of MRI diagnosis was 24/29, and the total coincidence rate of MRI diagnosis was 51/58. In the diagnosis of soft tissue masses of extremities, firstly, according to the range and adjacent relationship displayed clearly in MRI to locate the lesions, and then distinguishing the cystic and non-cystic lesions, determining the biochemical components of the lesions, and analyzing the histological features can improve the diagnostic accuracy.