However, the Dixon technique will likely be increasingly recognized as beneficial for soft tissue tumor imaging through its potential to provide more homogenous fat suppression when compared to traditional T2-fat saturated imaging and better resolution than inversion recovery imaging. Furthermore, it may help decrease imaging time because the Dixon water-only and fat- only images are acquired simultaneously [41,42]. MRI Area of Interest Without IV Contrast MRI without IV contrast may be beneficial as the next imaging study for the evaluation of soft tissue masses. Its improved soft tissue contrast and multiplanar capability have provided significant advantages for lesion conspicuity, intrinsic tumor characterization, and local staging [3,11]. Vascular structures and neurovascular involvement are more easily defined when compared with CT. The use of MR contrast agents improves the differentiation of benign from malignant soft tissue masses [33]. The contrast allows for better demarcation between viable tumor and muscle, edema-like reactive change, hemorrhage, and tumor necrosis, as well as providing information on tumor vascularity. In addition to static MR contrast imaging, there are several additional modern MR techniques that provide greater insight into the character and behavior of soft tissue masses and can assist with differentiation of benign from malignant tumors. These include diffusion-weighted imaging [34-37], dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging [38,39], and MR spectroscopy [38,39]. Of note, chemical-shift imaging has not shown utility in differentiating benign from malignant soft tissue masses [40]. However, the Dixon technique will likely be increasingly recognized as beneficial for soft tissue tumor imaging through its potential to provide more homogenous fat suppression when compared to traditional T2-fat saturated imaging and better resolution than inversion recovery imaging.
Soft Tissue Masses. However, the Dixon technique will likely be increasingly recognized as beneficial for soft tissue tumor imaging through its potential to provide more homogenous fat suppression when compared to traditional T2-fat saturated imaging and better resolution than inversion recovery imaging. Furthermore, it may help decrease imaging time because the Dixon water-only and fat- only images are acquired simultaneously [41,42]. MRI Area of Interest Without IV Contrast MRI without IV contrast may be beneficial as the next imaging study for the evaluation of soft tissue masses. Its improved soft tissue contrast and multiplanar capability have provided significant advantages for lesion conspicuity, intrinsic tumor characterization, and local staging [3,11]. Vascular structures and neurovascular involvement are more easily defined when compared with CT. The use of MR contrast agents improves the differentiation of benign from malignant soft tissue masses [33]. The contrast allows for better demarcation between viable tumor and muscle, edema-like reactive change, hemorrhage, and tumor necrosis, as well as providing information on tumor vascularity. In addition to static MR contrast imaging, there are several additional modern MR techniques that provide greater insight into the character and behavior of soft tissue masses and can assist with differentiation of benign from malignant tumors. These include diffusion-weighted imaging [34-37], dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging [38,39], and MR spectroscopy [38,39]. Of note, chemical-shift imaging has not shown utility in differentiating benign from malignant soft tissue masses [40]. However, the Dixon technique will likely be increasingly recognized as beneficial for soft tissue tumor imaging through its potential to provide more homogenous fat suppression when compared to traditional T2-fat saturated imaging and better resolution than inversion recovery imaging.