Imaging presentation of extraskeletal osteosarcomas on CT and MRI and correlation with patients outcome: A two-center retrospective study of 54 patients

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the imaging features of extraskeletal osteosarcomas (ESOS) on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to investigate their associations with overall survival (OS) using uni- and multivariable survival analyses.

Materials and methods: This two-center retrospective study included all consecutive adult patients between 2008 and 2021 with histopathologically-proven ESOS who underwent pre-treatment CT and/or MRI. Clinical and histological characteristics, ESOS presentation on CT and MRI, treatment and outcomes were reported. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regressions. Associations between imaging features and OS were searched using uni- and multivariable analyses.

Results: Fifty-four patients were included (30/54 [56%] men, median age: 67.5 years). Twenty-four died of ESOS (median OS: 18 months). ESOS were mostly deep-seated (46/54, 85%) in the lower limb (27/54, 50%) with a median size of 95 mm (interquartile range: 64, 142; range: 21-289 mm). Mineralization was seen on 26/42 (62%) patients, mainly gross-amorphous (18/26; 69%). ESOS were generally highly heterogeneous on T2-weighted images (38/48; 79%) and contrast-enhanced (CE) T1-weighted images (29/40; 72%), with necrosis (39/40; 97%), well-defined or focally infiltrative margins (39/47; 83%), with moderate peritumoral edema (39/47; 83%) and rim-like peripheral enhancement (17/40; 42%). Size, location, mineralization on CT, signal intensity heterogeneity on T1-, T2- and CE-T1-weighted images and hemorragic signal on MRI were associated with poorer OS (range of log-rank P = 0.0069-0.0485). At multivariable analysis, hemorragic signal and signal intensity heterogeneity on T2-weighted images remained predictive for poorer OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.68, P = 0.0299; HR = 9.85, P = 0.0262, respectively) CONCLUSION: ESOS typically presents as mineralized heterogeneous and necrotic soft tissue tumor with a possible rim-like enhancement and limited peritumoral abnormalities. MRI may help estimate outcome of patients with ESOS.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Extraskeletal osteosarcoma; Magnetic resonance imaging; Osteosarcoma; Soft-tissue tumors.