Computed tomography of lower extremity tumors

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Lower extremity tumors present diagnostic challenges.
• Accurate tumor characterization is crucial for treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in assessing lower extremity tumors.
• To determine the utility of CT in surgical planning for tumor resection or amputation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 50 lower extremity tumor cases examined with CT.
• Correlation of CT findings with gross pathology from en bloc resection or amputation.
• Utilized contrast-enhanced CT, including intravenous and intraarterial infusion, for enhanced vascular evaluation.

Main Results:

• CT accurately determined tumor size, location, definition, and relationship to neural, vascular, and osseous structures.
• Forty-one of 50 cases (82%) had gross pathologic correlation.
• Contrast enhancement improved the evaluation of vascular involvement.

Conclusions:

• Computed tomography is a valuable tool for evaluating lower extremity tumors.
• CT findings significantly aid in determining the feasibility of en bloc resection versus amputation.
• Contrast-enhanced CT enhances the assessment of tumor vascularity and its relationship to vital structures.