Summary
The preoperative results of computed tomography (CT) (n = 59) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) (n =14) were compared with the intraoperative site and the pathological histological finding. The tumor size was correctly estimated by CT in 69% (difference less than 20%), and overestimated in 31% (difference greater than 20%). The superiority of CT consisted in the visualization of intratumor alterations and the representation of the muscle compartments concerned and of the spatial relationship of the tumor to the bone and large vessels. Specific morphological CT criteria were found only in rhabdomyosarcoma and liposarcoma. Unequivocial preoperative appraisals with regard to the histological finding to be expected wer possible only in the case of lipoma. DSA was helpful for evaluation of vascular involvement and vascularization. The technique contributed to differential diagnosis (malignant-benign) in only 70%. In peripheral soft-tissue tumors (lower leg, forearm), arterial DSA is preferable to venous DSA. Angiography should be employed after the CT investigation and reserved for specific cases.
Zusammenfassung
Die präoperativen Ergebnisse der Computertomographie (CT) (n = 59) and digitalen Subtraktionsangiographie (DSA) (n = 14) wurden mit dem intraoperativen Situs and dem pathologisch-histologischen Befund verglichen. Die Tumorgröße wurde mit dem CT in 69% (Differenz kleiner als 20%) richtig eingeschätzt, in 31% (Differenz größer als 20%) überschätzt. Die Überlegenheit der Computertomographie bestand in der Darstellung von intratumorösen Veränderungen, Darstellung der betroffenen Muskelkompartimente and der Lagebeziehung des Tumors zum Knochen and großen Gefäßen. Spezielle morphologische, computertomographische Kriterien fanden sich nur beim Rhabdomyosarkom und Liposarkom, eindeutige präoperative Aussagen bezüglich des zu erwartenden histologischen Befundes waren nur beim Lipom möglich. Die DSA war hilfreich zur Beurteilung der Gefäßbeteiligung and Gefäßversorgung, zur differentialdiagnostischen Eingrenzung (maligne - benigne) trug das Verfahren nur in 70% bei. Bei peripheren Weichteiltumoren (Unterschenkel, Unterarm) ist die arterielle DSA der venösen vorzuziehen. Die Angiographie sollte nach der CT-Untersuchung eingesetzt werden and speziellen Fällen vorbehalten sein.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berger PE, Kuhn JP (1978) Computed tomography of tumors of the musculoskeletal system in children. Clinical applications. Radiology 127:171–175
Bernardino ME, Jings BS, Thomas JL, Lindell MM, Zornoza J (1981) The extremity soft-tissue lesion: a comparative study of ultrasound, computed tomography, and xeroradiography. Radiology 139:53–59
De Santos LA, Goldstein HM, Murray JA, Wallace S (1978) Computed tomography in the evaluation of musculoskeletal neoplasms. Radiology 128:89–94
De Santos LA, Goldstein HM, Murray JA, Wallace S (1981) Computed tomography in liposarcoma. Cancer 47:46–54
Egund N, Ekelund L, Sako M, Persson B (1981) Computed tomography of soft-tissue tumors. AJR 137:725–729
Ekelund L, Herrlin K, Rydholm A (1982) Comparison of computed tomography and angiography in the evaluation of soft-tissue tumors of the extremities. Acta Radiol Diagn (Stockh) 23:15–28
Enneking WF, Spanier SS, Malawer MM (1981) The effect of anatomical setting on the results of surgical procedures for soft-part sarcomas of the thigh. Cancer 47:1005–1011
Enterline HT (1981) Histopathology of sarcomas. Semin Oncol 8:133–135
Finck EF, Moore TM (1977) Angiography for mass lesions of bone, joint and soft tissue. Orthop Clin North Am 8:999–1010
Genant KH, Wilson J, Bovill E, Brunelle OF, Murray WR, Rodrigo JJ (1980) Computed tomography of the musculoskeletal system. J Bone Joint Surg 62:1088–1101
Golding SJ, Husband JE (1982) The role of computed tomography in the management of soft-tissue sarcomas. Br J Radiol 55:740–747
Grabbe E, Heller M, Böcker W (1979) Computertomographie bei Weichteilsarkomen. RÖFO 131:372–378
Heelan TT, Watson RC, Smith J (1979) Computed tomography of lower-extremity tumors. AJR 132:933–937
Herzberg DL, Schreiber MH (1971) Angiography in mass lesions of the extremity. AJR 111:541–546
Hudson TM, Haas G, Enneking WF, Hawkins IF (1975) Angiography in the management of musculoskeletal tumors. Surg Gynecol Obstet 141:11–21
Hunter JC, Johnson WH, Genant KH (1979) Computed tomography eveluation of fatty tumors of the somatic soft tissue: clinical utility and radiologic-pathologic correlation. Skeletal Radiol 4:79–86
Levine E, Lee KR, Neff JR, Makland NF, Robinson RG, Preston DF (1979) Comparison of computed tomography and other imaging modalities in the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors. Radiology 131:431–437
Paushter DM, Borowski GP, Bounocore E, Belhobek, Marks KE (1983) Digital subtraction angiography for preoperative evaluation of extremity tumors. AJR 141:129–133
Riddlesberger MM (1981) Computed tomography of the musculoskeletal system. Radiol Clin North Am 19:463–477
Schumacher TM, Genant HK, Korobkin M, Bovill EG (1978) Computed tomography: its use in space-occupying lesions of the musculoskeletal system. J Bone Joint Surg 60:600–607
Shiu MH, Gastro EB, Hajdn SI, Fortner JG (1975) Surgical treatment of 297 soft-tissue sarcomas of the lower extremity. Ann Surg 182:597–601
Viamonte M, Roen S, LePage J (1973) Nonspecificity of abnormal vascularity in the angiographic diagnosis of malignant neoplasms. Radiology 106:59–63
Weekes RG, McLeod RA, Reiman HM, Pritchard DJ (1985) Computed tomography of soft-tissue neoplasms. AJR 144:355–360
Weiss L, Heelan RT, Watson RC (1978) Computed tomography of orthopedic tumors of the pelvis and lower extremity. Clin Orthop 130:254–259
Wilson JS, Korobkin M, Genant HK, Bovill EG (1978) Computed tomography of musculoskeletal disorders. AJR 131:55–61
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crone-Münzebrock, W., Baake, S., Thoma, G. et al. Comparison of computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography for preoperative evaluation of soft-tissue tumors of the limbs. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 104, 319–324 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435950
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435950