Soft-tissue masses and masslike conditions: what does CT add to diagnosis and management?

Abstract

Although MRI is the technique of choice for evaluating most soft-tissue masses, CT often provides valuable complementary information. Specifically, there are distinguishing CT characteristics that can suggest a specific diagnosis, including the lesion's mineralization pattern, density, pattern of adjacent bone involvement, and degree and pattern of vascularity. This article provides an overview of the CT evaluation of soft-tissue masses, emphasizing a differential diagnosis based on these CT features.