Necrosis observed on CT enhancement is of prognostic value in soft tissue sarcoma

Fifty-one patients with deep-seated soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall were examined with contrast-enhanced CT for presence of nonenhanced tumor areas (CT necrosis). After a median follow-up time of 3 years, 19 of the 41 patients with CT necrosis had developed metastases, compared to none of the 10 patients who had tumors without CT necrosis. Tumors with CT necrosis were larger than tumors without, but in tumors of similar size, absence of CT necrosis was a favorable prognostic sign.