CT of soft-tissue tumors.

Computed tomography was performed on 52 patients with soft-tissue tumors, 36 malignant and 16 benign. Major advantages with CT include the possibility of differentiating between lipoma and other tumors and the ability to demonstrate the transverse location of a lesion (intra- or extracompartmental). It was not possible to relate attenuation values to histologic type or grade of malignancy. CT was found superior to conventional radiography in demonstrating additional bony destruction of the pelvis and spine. The risk of overestimating the size of high grade malignant tumors because of accompanying edema is discussed. CT should precede angiography in the investigation of soft-tissue tumors, and angiography may primarily be reserved for those lesions where vascular relationships are not adequately demonstrated by CT.