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Added value of diffusion-weighted imaging to conventional MRI for predicting fascial involvement of soft tissue sarcomas

  • Musculoskeletal
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to evaluate the added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting fascial involvement of soft tissue sarcomas located in close proximity to fascial boundaries.

Methods

This retrospective study included 29 patients with surgically resected soft tissue sarcomas located in proximity to deep fascia and with a curvilinear tail-like hyperintensity in the adjacent fascia on T2-weighted images. All patients underwent conventional MRI and DWI at 3.0 T and had detailed histologic reports on involvement of fascia. Two musculoskeletal radiologists with 21 and 1 year of experience independently reviewed conventional MRI and conventional imaging with added DWI. Readers scored their confidence for tumor involvement of fascia using a three-point scale. Diagnostic performance (area under the curve [Az]) of the two MRI sets was assessed with receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.

Result

Fascial involvement was present in 22/29 patients (75.9%). Both readers showed improvement in diagnostic performance with the addition of DWI (Az, from 0.545 to 0.792 and from 0.646 to 0.792 for reader 1 and reader 2, respectively). Adding DWI did not improve sensitivity or specificity for either reader (p > 0.05). Interobserver agreement for the confidence scores improved from fair to moderate with the addition of DWI (κ, from 0.390 to 0.560).

Conclusions

Adding DWI to conventional MRI improved diagnostic performance on prediction of fascial involvement of soft tissue sarcomas located in proximity to fascia, without significant improvement in sensitivity or specificity.

Key Points

• Adding DWI to conventional MRI improved readers’ confidence level for the prediction of fascial involvement of soft tissue sarcomas that are close to the deep fascia.

• Addition of DWI also improved interobserver agreement.

• Conversely, compared with conventional MRI, adding DWI did not significantly improve the sensitivity or specificity for the detection of fascial involvement.

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Abbreviations

ADC:

Apparent diffusion coefficient

DWI:

Diffusion-weighted imaging

MPNST:

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NPV:

Negative predictive value

PPV:

Positive predictive value

ROC:

Receiver-operating characteristic

UPS:

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, South Korea

    Min A Yoon, Choong Guen Chee, Hye Won Chung, Min Hee Lee, Sang Hoon Lee & Myung Jin Shin

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, South Korea

    Joon Seon Song

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, South Korea

    Jong Seok Lee & Wanlim Kim

Authors
  1. Min A Yoon
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  2. Choong Guen Chee
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  3. Hye Won Chung
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  5. Jong Seok Lee
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  6. Wanlim Kim
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  7. Min Hee Lee
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  8. Sang Hoon Lee
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  9. Myung Jin Shin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hye Won Chung.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Hye Won Chung.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Methodology

• Retrospective

• Diagnostic or prognostic study

• Performed at one institution

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Yoon, M.A., Chee, C.G., Chung, H.W. et al. Added value of diffusion-weighted imaging to conventional MRI for predicting fascial involvement of soft tissue sarcomas. Eur Radiol 29, 1863–1873 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5786-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5786-3

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