The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

November 2020

Long-term diagnostic value of MRI in detecting recurrent aggressive fibromatosis at two multidisciplinary sarcoma centers

Author Information

Sedaghat S(1), Sedaghat M(2), Krohn S(2), Jansen O(3), Freund K(4), Streitburger A(5), Reichardt B(6).

(1)Dept for Radiology & Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany; Institute of Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany. (2)Dept of Prosthodontics, University Hospital Gottingen, Germany. (3)Dept for Radiology & Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany. (4)Spinal Cord Injury Center, Clinic for Paraplegiologia & Neuro-Urology, Bad Berka, Germany. (5)Dept of Orthopedic Oncology, University Hospital Essen, Germany. (6)Institute of Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology & Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Germany; Dept for Interventional Radiology & Neuroradiology, Klinikum Hochsauerland, Arnsberg, Germany.

Publication

Eur J Radiol

Summary

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in detecting recurrent aggressive fibromatosis (AF) during long-term follow-up at two multidisciplinary sarcoma centers. Seventy-nine patients from two sarcoma centers were included in this IRB-approved study and were examined postoperatively using 1.5-T MRI. MRI follow-up scans were reviewed for true-positive/-negative and false-positive/-negative results. Available pathological reports and MRI follow-ups were set as reference. The median age of the patients was 38.1 ñ 15.3 years. Of the patients 27.9 % showed recurrent AF lesions. The most common localizations of AF were the axilla/shoulder (n = 15) and the thigh (n = 11). From 498 postoperative MRI follow-ups, 24 true-positive, 16 false-positive, 6 false-negative, and 452 true-negative MRI follow-ups were identified. The overall sensitivity and specificity for detecting recurrent AF was 80 % and 97 %, respectively. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy at the two sarcoma centers. All false-negative results were found in small lesions. False-positive results mostly mimicked streaky (n = 10) and small ovoid/nodular (n = 5) lesions. The configuration of recurrent AF was significantly most often fascicular (50 %; p = 0.001-0.005). MRI shows a high long-term diagnostic value in detecting AF recurrences. Nevertheless, radiologists should pay close attention when lesions are small, as they may remain undetected. Although the configuration of recurrent AF is most often fascicular, recurrences may also appear in different shapes.

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