HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gaskin, C. M. Articles by Helms, C. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gaskin, C. M. Articles by Helms, C. A. Social Bookmarking                      What's this? Hotlight (NEW!) What's Hotlight?

Lipomas, Lipoma Variants, and Well-Differentiated Liposarcomas (Atypical Lipomas): Results of MRI Evaluations of 126 Consecutive Fatty Masses

¹ Both authors: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Erwin Rd., DUMC #3808, Durham, NC 27710.

OBJECTIVE. Our objectives were to evaluate the reliability of MRI in distinguishing simple lipomas, lipoma variants, and well-differentiated liposarcomas (atypical lipomas) and to identify various imaging mimics of well-differentiated liposarcoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. One hundred twenty-six consecutively imaged grossly fatty masses were retrospectively reviewed. MRI examinations, their prospective interpretations, and their corresponding pathology reports were compared to determine the reliability of MRI in distinguishing simple lipomas, lipoma variants, and well-differentiated liposarcomas.

RESULTS. The success of MRI in identifying well-differentiated liposarcomas among other fatty masses was as follows: sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 83%; accuracy, 84%; positive predictive value, 38%; and negative predictive value, 100%. MRI was 100% specific in the diagnosis of simple lipoma. Sixty-three percent of lesions considered suspicious for well-differentiated liposarcoma were actually simple lipomas (13%) and benign lipoma variants (50%), including chondroid lipoma (13%), osteolipoma (6%), hibernoma (6%), lipoleiomyoma (6%), angiolipoma (6%), and infarcted lipoma (13%).

CONCLUSION. Because of differences in treatment, prognosis, and long-term follow-up, it is important to preoperatively distinguish simple lipomas from well-differentiated liposarcomas. MRI is highly sensitive in the detection of well-differentiated liposarcomas and highly specific in the diagnosis of simple lipomas. However, when an extremity or body wall lesion is considered suspicious for well-differentiated liposarcoma, it is more likely (64%) to represent one of many benign lipoma variants.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. M. Blitman, D. Pandya, B. A. Thornhill, D. M. Barlev, and T. L. Levin Pain in the Butt: Spectrum of Gluteal Region Abnormalities in Children Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2009; 192(5): 1286 - 1291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. M. Navarro, E. E. Laffan, and B.-Y. Ngan Pediatric Soft-Tissue Tumors and Pseudo-tumors: MR Imaging Features with Pathologic Correlation: Part 1. Imaging Approach, Pseudotumors, Vascular Lesions, and Adipocytic Tumors RadioGraphics, May 1, 2009; 29(3): 887 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I-C Chiang, M-Y Jang, K-B Tsai, and T-J Hsieh Huge renal lipoma with prominent hypervascular non-adipose elements. Br. J. Radiol., October 1, 2006; 79(946): e148 - e151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Lopez Soriano, A. Tomasello, P. Luburich, and A. Noel Fat Necrosis in a Chest Wall Lipoma Am. J. Roentgenol., September 1, 2004; 183(3): 866 - 866. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Murphey, J. F. Carroll, D. J. Flemming, T. L. Pope, F. H. Gannon, and M. J. Kransdorf From the Archives of the AFIP: Benign Musculoskeletal Lipomatous Lesions RadioGraphics, September 1, 2004; 24(5): 1433 - 1466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]