Sonography of musculoskeletal soft-tissue masses: techniques, pearls, and pitfalls

The purpose of this article is to review the appropriate use of ultrasound in the workup of soft-tissue masses of the extremities. The normal sonographic appearance of superficial soft tissues, the importance of proper technique in image acquisition, and the characteristic sonographic appearance of certain masses and potential pitfalls are discussed.

Ultrasound is increasingly being used for the initial evaluation of soft-tissue masses of the extremities. Certain clinical and imaging findings allow diagnosis of selected soft-tissue masses; however, most imaging findings are nonspecific, and further evaluation is necessary. The many potential pitfalls can lead to adverse patient outcomes.