Radiologic Approach to Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in evaluation and treatment planning of patients with musculoskeletal tumors. This article discusses various imaging modalities available in the work-up, staging, and surveillance of patients with primary bone and soft tissue neoplasms. A systematic approach to initial evaluation of newly suspected bone lesions and soft tissue masses is presented. Reviewed are relevant imaging features of musculoskeletal neoplasms that help predict tumor biology and risk of malignancy and findings that define internal tumor composition and allow for accurate preoperative histopathologic diagnosis before intervention. Finally, the role of diagnostic imaging in tumor staging, evaluation of response to neoadjuvant therapy, and postoperative surveillance is discussed.