Contrast-enhanced three-dimensional helical CT for soft tissue tumors in the extremities

Objective. To evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced three-dimensional ( 3D) helical computed tomography (CT) to image soft tissue tumors in the ext remities. Design and patients. Forty-five consecutive patients with soft tissue tumor s in the extremities were examined (mean age 46.2 years; 24 females, 21 mal es). Twenty-five patients had benign lesions and 20 had malignant lesions. All the patients underwent contrast-enhanced 3DCT scanning and magnetic res onance (MR) imaging preoperatively. All patients were surgically treated. S piral CT scanning was performed with intravenous contrast enhancement. 3D r econstruction images were produced after thresholding, using Active-Windows (version 2.0, General Electric, Milwaukee, WI) software. 3DCT findings wer e compared in a masked fashion with the MR imaging and surgical findings re garding bone and major vessel invasion by the tumors. Results. Forty-four of 45 tumors were satisfactorily imaged for the interpr etation of their size, location and relationship to the skeleton and major vessels. One malignant tumor was judged on 3DCT to invade the major vessel, but the vessel proved to be normal at surgery. Conclusions. Contrast-enhanced 3D helical CT can be used for the evaluation of soft tissue tumors in the extremities, for preoperative surgical planni ng.