Soft tissue tumor imaging in adults: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology–Guidelines 2024: imaging immediately after neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma, soft tissue tumor surveillance, and the role of interventional radiology
摘要
An update of the first European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) consensus on soft tissue tumor imaging in 2015 became necessary due to technical advancements, further insights into specific entities, and the revised WHO classification (2020) and AJCC staging system (2017). The third part of the revised guidelines covers algorithms and techniques beyond initial imaging: (1) Imaging after neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma, (2) sarcoma surveillance, and (3) special aspects, including surveillance of non-malignant entities and the role of interventional radiology.
Materials and methodsA validated Delphi method based on peer-reviewed literature was used to derive consensus among a panel of 46 specialized musculoskeletal radiologists from 12 European countries. Statements that had undergone interdisciplinary revision were scored online by level of agreement (0 to 10) during two iterative rounds that could result in either ‘group consensus,’ ‘group agreement,’ or ‘lack of agreement.’
ResultsThe three sections contain 47 statements with comments. Group consensus was reached in 91.5%, group agreement in 6.4%, lack of agreement in 2.1%. In sarcoma, imaging immediately after neoadjuvant therapy is pivotal for determining the therapy effects and for resection-planning; surveillance should include imaging at fixed grade- and type-dependent intervals. In general, MRI is the method of choice for loco-regional surveillance of soft tissue sarcomas, and chest CT to assess metastatic disease. Interventional radiology has a role, especially in oligometastatic disease, palliative tumor control and local recurrences.
ConclusionStrategies for standardized soft tissue tumor imaging regarding therapy control, surveillance, and useful interventional procedures are provided.
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