Soft-tissue tumors and tumor-like masses: A systematic approach to diagnosis

In summary, MR is the preferred modality for the evaluation of a soft-tissue mass following radiography. The radiologic appearance of certain soft-tissue tumors or tumorlike processes may be sufficiently unique to allow a strong presumptive radiologic diagnosis. It must be emphasized that MR imaging cannot reliably distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. When radiologic evaluation is nonspecific, one is ill advised to suggest that a lesion is benign or malignant solely on its MR appearance. When a specific diagnosis is not possible, knowledge of tumor prevalence by location and patient age, with appropriate clinical history and radiologic features, can be used to establish a suitably ordered differential diagnosis.