J Korean Soc Radiol.  2010 Sep;63(3):255-260. 10.3348/jksr.2010.63.3.255.

Abdominal Metastasis Arising from Musculoskeletal Sarcoma: CT Findings

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, St.Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea. jeeykim@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.

Abstract

Musculoskeletal sarcoma metastasizes to various sites in the body. The most common metastsis site is the lung, followed less frequently by the skeleton, brain, intra-abdominal organs, lymph node, and pleura. The metastasis of musculoskeletal sarcoma showed various manifestations, which was seen as a nonspecific finding. Metastatic lesions display similar and characteristic features, which include calcification of primary musculoskeletal sarcoma. These features may provide an important diagnostic clue when seen on CT findings. We present a review of the abdominal CT findings in 5 patients with calcified metastasis arising from musculoskeletal sarcoma.


MeSH Terms

Brain
Humans
Lung
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pleura
Sarcoma
Skeleton
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A 55-year-old man with osteosarcoma. A. Abdominal CT scan demonstrates multiple dense calcified nodules in the omentum (arrows), irregular peritoneal thickening with calcifications (arrowheads), and associated with ascites. B. Scintigraphy with 99mTc-pyrophosphate demonstrates intense uptake in the chest and peritoneum but no evidence of skeletal metastases.

  • Fig. 2 A 58-year-old female with chondrosarcoma. A, B. Abdominal CT scan demonstrate multiple calcified nodules (arrows) with central arc-like and stippled calcifications in the omentum and mesentery. These nodules show minimal contrast enhancement. C. Abdominal CT scan reveals a soft tissue mass (arrowheads) with chondroid calcifications in left pubic bone.

  • Fig. 3 A 31-year-old female with osteosarcoma. A, B. Abdominal CT scan show multiple metastatic lymphadenopathy(arrows) with calcifications and strong contrast enhancement in the right external iliac area. C. Plain radiograph demonstrates an ill-defined mass (arrowheads) with cloudlike matrix, cortical break, and extraosseous extension in the head of right fibula.

  • Fig. 4 A 38-year-old woman with juxtacortical chondrosarcoma. A. Abdominal CT reveals a hypodense mass (white arrowheads) with central arc-like and stippled calcifications in the tail of the pancreas. B. Plain radiograph shows a soft tissue mass with stippled calcifications (black arrowheads) in the left thigh with similar chondroid calcifications.

  • Fig. 5 A 36-year-old man with chondrosarcoma. A. Abdominal CT shows an irregular hypodensemass (arrowheads) with arc-shaped and stippled calcifications in the abdominal wall muscles. B. Abdominal CT scan shows a large mass (arrowheads) with chondroid calcifications in the left pubic bone.


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