What are some musculoskeletal tumor features evaluated with MRI? Can MRI be used to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors?
The tumor location, extent, and relationship to the neurovascular bundle and the presence of skip lesions and joint involvement are important features that are assessed with MRI, which help to determine the stage of the tumor and to plan a surgical approach. Although MRI may help in the assessment of the aggressiveness of a lesion and in the recognition of certain “pathognomonic” lesions, it cannot be used to reliably distinguish between benign and malignant tumors and is generally nonspecific in determining tumor cell type. Biopsy of the lesion is often required.
