MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF CARTILAGINOUS TUMORS - IS IT USEFUL OR NECESSARY

Objective. A retrospective study was undertaken to compare the diagnos tic accuracy of plain radiography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of cartilaginous tumors. Patients. The study populati on consisted of 68 patients with a histologically proven cartilaginous tumor. Design. For each lesion, a comparative analysis of ''plain rad iography'' versus ''plain radiography together with MR study'' was per formed by two radiologists together. Recently reported literature data were used as criteria by which to define the accuracy rating. Results and conclusions. MR imaging improves accuracy in diagnosing low-grade chondrosarcomas. Since osteochondromas have a characteristic appearan ce on plain films, MR imaging contributes only in the diagnostic worku p of cases in which malignant transformation is suspected.