Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

A Novel Application of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging
Published on: September 17, 2013
MRI surveillance for musculoskeletal sarcoma recurrence: is axial-only imaging good enough?
Arora Manasi1, Ronnie A Sebro2, Benjamin K Wilke3
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA. arora.manasi@mayo.edu.
Objective:
The goal of this study is to compare the sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity of detection of musculoskeletal sarcoma local recurrence (LR) using axial-only MRI compared with multiplanar MRI.
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective study included 101 patients (47 with pathology-proven LR, 54 without recurrence) who underwent pre- and post-operative MRIs between 2013 and 2023 at a single academic center. Three fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists independently reviewed anonymized MRIs. Initial review included only the axial sequences from the surveillance MRIs. Secondary review following a 6-month washout included all sequences from the multiplanar surveillance MRIs.
Results:
No statistically significant differences in accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were observed between axial-only and complete (multiplanar) MRI analyses (p > 0.05). Accuracy of LR detection with axial-only vs. complete (multiplanar) MRI was 94.5% vs. 93.1% (Reader 1), 87.1% vs. 91.1% (Reader 2), and 82.7% vs. 86.1% (Reader 3). LR size ranged from 0.7 to 8.9 cm (mean 3.2 cm, median 2.6 cm). All missed recurrences when using axial-only surveillance MRI measured < 2 cm. Inter-reader agreement improved from 0.768 (axial-only) to 0.834 (complete MRI).
Conclusion:
Surveillance MRI using axial sequences alone demonstrated comparable accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity to multiplanar MRI for detecting musculoskeletal sarcoma LR.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
Axial and Appendicular Muscles
Axial Muscles
Axial muscles, situated along the body's midline, are intricately connected to the axial skeleton, which includes the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum. These muscles facilitate facial expressions and...
Principles of Disease Surveillance
Overview of the Axial Skeleton
The axial skeleton of the...
General Case of Eccentric Axial Loading
Consider a member subjected to equal and opposite forces that are applied along a line that does not coincide with the member's neutral axis. In unsymmetrical...
Normal Strain under Axial Loading

