When should a soft tissue mass detected on Ultrasound be referred for MRI?
There are multiple indications for obtaining an MRI for further characterization of a soft tissue mass detected on US, including, but not limited to, those instances in which the lesion cannot be definitively diagnosed as a ganglion cyst or lipoma; does not definitively arise from a joint or synovial space; is greater than 5 cm in size; is very deep; demonstrates vascularity on Doppler imaging; is hypoechoic; shows complex echogenicity with irregular borders; invades fascial planes; or has soft tissue calcifications.
