DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR-IMAGING OF MUSCULOSKELETAL TUMORS - BASIC PRINCIPLES AND CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS

The purpose of this article is to review the basic principles and clin ical applications of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in the musculoskele tal system. This method of physiologic imaging provides clinically use ful information by depicting tissue vascularization and perfusion, cap illary permeability, and composition of the interstitial space, Differ ent imaging, evaluation, and postprocessing techniques are described. The most important applications in the musculoskeletal system are iden tification of areas of viable tumor for biopsy, tissue characterizatio n, and monitoring of preoperative chemotherapy, Practical guidelines f or performing a dynamic contrast-enhanced MR examination are proposed.