Comparison of computed tomography and other imaging modalities in the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors.

An algorithmic approach for the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors is proposed on the basis of a prospective comparison of different imaging techniques in 50 unselected patients. Conventional radiography was superior to other techniques in predicting the nature of primary bone tumors. Computed tomography proved the most effective method for assessing the extent of musculoskeletal tumors and therefore had a significant influence on management in 66% of patients studied. CT was more informative than angiography and also provided more anatomical detail than ultrasound. Radionuclide scanning was mainly of value in detecting unsuspected skeletal metastases in patients with apparently solitary skeletal lesions.