Role of magnetic resonance imaging in characterization of superficial soft tissue masses

Abstract

Abstract Background In clinical practice, differentiation between various superficial soft tissue masses is a significant challenge, as both benign and malignant neoplasms can present similarly. Accurate identification is crucial for effective treatment planning. Ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound can evaluate these masses broadly based on size and blood flow, With many limitations. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers superior soft tissue characterization and can reveal key features to differentiate between lesion types. Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) is increasingly utilized to differentiate these masses, as malignant tumors typically show more restricted diffusion due to higher cellularity, making quantitative ADC values essential for precise diagnosis. Results Our study involved 63 patients (32 males, 50.8% and 31 females, 49.2%) aged 1–72 years, with a mean age of 37.03 ± 15.95 years, presenting with superficial lesions. Biopsy results revealed that 76.2% of lesions were benign and 23.8% malignant. Approximately 57% of lesions had well-defined borders, while 26.9% were ill-defined. Restricted diffusion was observed in 59% of cases, with all malignant cases showing restricted diffusion compared to 45.8% of benign cases (p = 0.001). The mean ADC value was significantly higher in benign cases (1.22 ± 0.680) versus malignant cases (0.732 ± 0.194) (p = 0.001). Conclusions Our research shows that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have a great deal of potential for precisely distinguishing between benign and malignant soft tissue masses. Healthcare practitioners can greatly improve patient outcomes and diagnostic accuracy by implementing these parameters into clinical practice. Additionally, standardizing the use of DWI and ADC results by revising clinical guidelines.