PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION OF GIANT-CELL TUMORS OF THE RADIUS WITH MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY

We report three clinical cases of giant cell tumor of the distal radiu s in which reconstructions were performed with vascularized fibular gr afts. Magnetic resonance angiography, a newer and noninvasive techniqu e, was used in addition to preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Al l patients had routine digital subtraction arteriography, with which m agnetic resonance angiography compared favorably, demonstrating the ca rpal arch anatomy and other major vessels at the tumor site. In two pa tients the trifurcation vessels of both legs were also studied with ma gnetic resonance angiography before fibular harvest. In one case, the fibula graft was successfully harvested on the basis of the magnetic r esonance angiographic findings. In the other case, digital subtraction arteriography had been done to evaluate suspected peripheral vascular disease. In that case magnetic resonance angiography correlated well with the digital subtraction arteriographic study, showing bilateral a nterior tibial artery occlusions and patent posterior tibial and peron eal arteries. Magnetic resonance angiography has the potential to repl ace conventional angiography in preoperative evaluation of upper-extre mity tumors.