CT and MRI manifestations of solitary fibrous tumor

Objective:To investigate the CT and MRI features of solitary fibrous tumor(SFT).Methods:21 cases of SFT confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.All 21 patients underwent CT,and 8 patients underwent MRI scanning.The location,size,shape,density,signal intensity and enhancement pattern of tumor were studied.Results:The largest dimension of SFT ranged from 3cm to 22.6cm(mean 9.8cm),showing oval,round or irregular in shape,with ill-or well-defined margin soft tissue mass,iso-attenuated(19 cases) and hyper-attenuated(2 cases) on unenhanced CT.After contrast administration,tumor showed mild-moderate enhancement in the arterial phase,marked enhancement in the parenchymal phase and delayed phase.Heterogeneous enhancement could be seen in all patients,with patchy,hemorrhagic and necrotic foci in 16 cases,calcification in 3 cases,peri-lesional edema in 2 cases and bone destruction in 2 cases.Huge soft tissue mass could be revealed on MRI,showing hypo-or iso-intensity on T1WI and intermediate to hyper-intensity or heterogeneous intensity on T2WI,hyper-intensity on DWI and marked enhancement of solid components after contrast.Conclusion:The mass lesion of SFT and its relationship with surrounding tissue could be clearly displayed on CT.Different histological components of the tumor could be revealed by the signal intensities on MRI.CT and MRI are valuable in early detection,diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SFTs,as well as estimating the relationship between tumor and adjacent structures.