"Cystic"-appearing soft tissue masses: what is the role of anatomic, functional, and metabolic MR imaging techniques in their characterization?
Although conventional MR imaging with contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences is of paramount importance for evaluating soft tissue masses, noncontrast MR sequences have emerged that facilitate their characterization. In this article, the utility and pitfalls of conventional MR imaging with T1-weighted, fluid-sensitive, and contrast-enhanced sequences will be discussed, along with that of functional (diffusion weighted imaging) and metabolic (proton MR spectroscopy) non-contrast-enhanced techniques for the purpose of soft tissue mass characterization. In particular, we discuss the application of these techniques to differentiating neoplastic or inflammatory masses that have high fluid content from benign cysts, as this distinction is a common pitfall of conventional sequences.
['Thawait|Gaurav K|GK|', 'Subhawong|Ty K|TK|', 'Tatizawa Shiga|Ney Yoichi|NY|', 'Fayad|Laura M|LM|']
D003287:Contrast Media D003560:Cysts D003937:Diagnosis, Differential D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy D008297:Male D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms
cysts diffusion magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance spectroscopy soft tissue neoplasms