[Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance tomography in soft tissue tumors]

The modern cross-sectional imaging techniques, e.g. CT and MR, have brought about a significant improvement in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. CT allows these neoplasms to be detected with relatively high sensitivity and their extension to be assessed. MR has proved to be superior to CT owing to the high soft tissue contrast it provides and its multi-planar imaging capabilities. Gadolinium-DTPA, a paramagnetic agent, can be utilized to good advantage as contrast material in MR; it yields further information as to the malignancy or otherwise of particular tumors. In addition, differentiation of tumor recurrences from other postoperative alterations seems to be feasible.