Musculoskeletal tumors: how to use anatomic, functional, and metabolic MR techniques

Although the function of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors has traditionally been to help identify the extent of disease prior to treatment, its role continues to evolve as new techniques emerge. Conventional pulse sequences remain heavily used and useful, but with the advent of chemical shift imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion imaging and MR spectroscopy, additional quantitative metrics have become available that may help expand the role of MR imaging to include detection, characterization, and reliable assessment of treatment response. This review discusses a multiparametric approach to the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors, with a focus on the utility and potential added value of various pulse sequences in helping establish a diagnosis, assess pretreatment extent, and evaluate a tumor in the posttreatment setting for recurrence and treatment response.