Multimodality imaging of adult rhabdomyosarcoma: the added value of hybrid imaging

Br J Radiol. 2020 Aug;93(1112):20200250. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20200250. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents more than 50% of paediatric soft tissue tumours. Conversely, it is extremely rare among adults, where it shows peculiar biological and clinical features that are still poorly investigated. RMS patients should be referred to a Sarcoma Centre, where the contribution of experienced radiologists plays a relevant role in the diagnostic assessment of the disease, including precise localisation, staging, image-guided biopsy, response evaluation after treatment and follow-up. Besides CT and MRI, hybrid imaging including positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and PET/MRI are giving an increasing contribution to provide functional insights about tumour biology and to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the imaging work-up. This review paper provides a revision of the pathology, clinical and radiological features of adult RMS, with a particular focus on the growing role of hybrid PET-based imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Multimodal Imaging* / methods
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed