Imaging in the follow-up of soft tissue tumors.

Local recurrences of aggressive soft tissue tumors are frequent and very difficult to detect clinically after surgery and radiation therapy. Ultrasound is limited because the skin is thick. On contrast-enhanced CT, both scars and recurrences increase their signal. MRI is the best technique, and the only one we presently use in the detection of recurrent tumors. We are reporting 511 follow-up examinations in 182 patients after tumor removal. All patients had histologic confirmation or at least 6 months follow-up. There were 164 malignant tumors and 18 cases of aggressive fibromatosis.