Marrow signal mimicking tumor on MRI T1-weighted imaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in extremity osteosarcomas

Many studies had demonstrated that MRI T1-weighted imaging was the most accurate method to evaluate the intramedullary extent of extremity osteosarcoma. However, we found that after neoadjuvant chemotherapy new low signal of MRI T1 imaging was detected near tumor, which mimicked the tumor progression. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and type of this new signal, to reveal the pathological correlation with this imaging change.

We included 74 extremity osteosarcomas managed between June 2011 and November 2012 in this retrospective study. The T1-weighted MRI images of the affected extremity before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were reviewed and compared. The subjects were then classified according to the appearance of the border between the area involved by osteosarcoma and the normal marrow with attention paid to whether the border was continuous and the width of the zone of transition. The study population was classified into one of four classifications: 'clear', 'continuous diffuse', 'discontinuous island-like' and 'discontinuous diffuse'. 11 patients underwent MRI of bilateral extremities, and for these patients we assessed the appearance of the uninvolved extremity with that with osteosarcoma. Following surgical resection of the tumor, the pathologic appearance was compared with the pre-operative MRI findings.

According to our classification system, all 74 subjects were 'clear' before neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 30 subjects (40.5%) were still clear. Of the 44 subjects (59.5%) not classified as 'clear', 22 (29.7%) were classified as 'continuous diffuse', 4 (5.4%) as 'discontinuous island-like', and 18 (24.3%) as 'discontinuous diffuse'. Of the subjects with MRI of bilateral femurs, no radiologic difference was noted in the normal marrow bilaterally. No significant difference in overall survival and relapse free survival was noted between patients grouped according to the subtypes of MRI noted.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for extremity osteosarcoma can result in a variety of changes of the MRI appearance of tumor and adjacent bone and marrow. Areas of signal change beyond the tumor that represent marrow conversion and not tumor progression appear on T1 weighted imaging to be lower in signal than subcutaneous fat and higher in signal than muscle. Recognizing the existence of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the MR appearance of the tumor and surrounding bone and myeloid elements is important so as to plan for oncological sound tumor resections while avoiding resecting more normal bone than necessary.