Title:Primary Tumors of the Sacrum: Imaging Findings
Volume: 18
Author(s): Andrea Sambri*, Michele Fiore, Claudio Giannini, Valerio Pipola, Riccardo Zucchini, Maria Pilar Aparisi Gomez, Paula Musa Aguiar, Alessandro Gasbarrini and Massimiliano De Paolis
Affiliation:
- University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Keywords:
Sacrum, tumor, osteolysis, bone tumor, benign, malignant.
Abstract: The diagnosis of sacral neoplasms is often delayed because they tend to remain clinically
silent for a long time. Imaging is useful at all stages of the management of sacral bone tumors,
i.e., from the detection of the neoplasm to the long-term follow-up. Radiographs are recommended
as the modality of choice to begin the imaging workup of a patient with known or suspected sacral
pathology. More sensitive examinations, such as Computerized Tomography (CT), magnetic resonance
(MRI), or scintigraphy, are often necessary. The morphological features of the lesions on CT
and MRI help orientate the diagnosis. Although some imaging characteristics are helpful to limit
the differential diagnosis, an imaging-guided biopsy is often ultimately required to establish a specific
diagnosis. Imaging is of paramount importance even in the long-term follow-up, in order to assess
any residual tumor when surgical resection remains incomplete, to assess the efficacy of adjuvant
chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and to detect recurrence.
