Characterization of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors at MRI

MRI protocol Optimal characterization of musculoskeletal tumors at MRI involves certain basic requirements. High-resolution, small-field-of-view axial T1-weighted spin-echo and fatsuppressed T2-weighted fast (turbo) spin-echo images should be obtained through the entire tumor. T1-weighted images are critical in showing the presence of fat or hemorrhage within a mass; distinguishing normal marrow and tumor; and demonstrating bone tumors against a background of fatty marrow. Fat suppression is essential in the T2-weighted images to allow evaluation of bone marrow for tumor involvement. Preand post-gadolinium fat-suppressed T1-weighted spin-echo images are frequently helpful, both for distinguishing cysts from solid masses and for demonstrating necrotic portions of tumor to be avoided at biopsy.