Radiologic staging of primary bone sarcoma: MR imaging, scintigraphy, angiography, and CT correlated with pathologic examination.

The relative value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, computed tomography (CT), technetium-99m bone scintigraphy, and angiography in local tumor staging was prospectively evaluated in 56 patients with primary bone sarcoma. The results of imaging were correlated with findings at surgery and at dissection of the resected specimens. MR imaging was significantly superior to CT and scintigraphy in defining intraosseous tumor length and was as accurate as CT in demonstrating cortical bone and joint involvement. It was definitely superior to CT in demonstrating involvement of muscle compartments. MR imaging was also the best modality in exhibiting the relationship between tumor and major neurovascular bundles; however, these differences were not significant. It is concluded that MR imaging is the modality of choice for local staging of primary bone sarcoma.