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Open Access 18-12-2024 | Sarcoma | Review

Soft tissue tumor imaging in adults: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology–Guidelines 2024: imaging immediately after neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma, soft tissue tumor surveillance, and the role of interventional radiology

Authors: Iris-Melanie Noebauer-Huhmann, Joan C. Vilanova, Olympia Papakonstantinou, Marc-André Weber, Radhesh K. Lalam, Violeta Vasilevska Nikodinovska, Hatice T. Sanal, Frédéric E. Lecouvet, Ana Navas, José Martel-Villagrán, Jacky W. J. de Rooy, Jan Fritz, Koenraad Verstraete, Thomas Grieser, Pavol Szomolanyi, Snehansh Chaudhary, Luca Maria Sconfienza, Alberto S. Tagliafico, P. Diana Afonso, Omar M. Albtoush, Giacomo Aringhieri, Remide Arkun, Gunnar Aström, Alberto Bazzocchi, Rajesh Botchu, Martin Breitenseher, Danoob Dalili, Mark Davies, Milko C. de Jonge, Berna D. Mete, Jan L. M. A. Gielen, Geoff Hide, Amanda Isaac, Slavcho Ivanoski, Ramy M. Mansour, Catherine Mccarthy, Lorenzo Muntaner-Gimbernat, Paul O’Donnell, Şebnem Örgüç, Winston J. Rennie, Santiago Resano, Philip Robinson, Simone A. J. Ter Horst, Kirsten van Langevelde, Klaus Wörtler, Marita Koelz, Joannis Panotopoulos, Reinhard Windhager, Barbara J. Fueger, Maximilian Schmid, Filip M. Vanhoenacker

Published in: European Radiology

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Abstract

Objectives

An update of the first European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) consensus on soft tissue tumor imaging in 2015 became necessary due to technical advancements, further insights into specific entities, and the revised WHO classification (2020) and AJCC staging system (2017). The third part of the revised guidelines covers algorithms and techniques beyond initial imaging: (1) Imaging after neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma, (2) sarcoma surveillance, and (3) special aspects, including surveillance of non-malignant entities and the role of interventional radiology.

Materials and methods

A validated Delphi method based on peer-reviewed literature was used to derive consensus among a panel of 46 specialized musculoskeletal radiologists from 12 European countries. Statements that had undergone interdisciplinary revision were scored online by level of agreement (0 to 10) during two iterative rounds that could result in either ‘group consensus,’ ‘group agreement,’ or ‘lack of agreement.’

Results

The three sections contain 47 statements with comments. Group consensus was reached in 91.5%, group agreement in 6.4%, lack of agreement in 2.1%. In sarcoma, imaging immediately after neoadjuvant therapy is pivotal for determining the therapy effects and for resection-planning; surveillance should include imaging at fixed grade- and type-dependent intervals. In general, MRI is the method of choice for loco-regional surveillance of soft tissue sarcomas, and chest CT to assess metastatic disease. Interventional radiology has a role, especially in oligometastatic disease, palliative tumor control and local recurrences.

Conclusion

Strategies for standardized soft tissue tumor imaging regarding therapy control, surveillance, and useful interventional procedures are provided.

Key Points

Question An ESSR consensus update on soft tissue tumor imaging regarding surveillance became necessary due to technical advancements, further entity-specific insights, and revised WHO- and AJCC-classifications.
Findings Imaging immediately after neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma is pivotal. Post-therapeutic surveillance should include imaging at regular intervals, stratified for tumor grade and type.
Clinical relevance The updated ESSR soft tissue tumor imaging guidelines aim to provide best practice expert consensus for standardized imaging, to support radiologists in their decision-making, and to improve examination comparability, both in individual patients and in future studies on individualized strategies.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Soft tissue tumor imaging in adults: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology–Guidelines 2024: imaging immediately after neoadjuvant therapy in soft tissue sarcoma, soft tissue tumor surveillance, and the role of interventional radiology
Authors
Iris-Melanie Noebauer-Huhmann
Joan C. Vilanova
Olympia Papakonstantinou
Marc-André Weber
Radhesh K. Lalam
Violeta Vasilevska Nikodinovska
Hatice T. Sanal
Frédéric E. Lecouvet
Ana Navas
José Martel-Villagrán
Jacky W. J. de Rooy
Jan Fritz
Koenraad Verstraete
Thomas Grieser
Pavol Szomolanyi
Snehansh Chaudhary
Luca Maria Sconfienza
Alberto S. Tagliafico
P. Diana Afonso
Omar M. Albtoush
Giacomo Aringhieri
Remide Arkun
Gunnar Aström
Alberto Bazzocchi
Rajesh Botchu
Martin Breitenseher
Danoob Dalili
Mark Davies
Milko C. de Jonge
Berna D. Mete
Jan L. M. A. Gielen
Geoff Hide
Amanda Isaac
Slavcho Ivanoski
Ramy M. Mansour
Catherine Mccarthy
Lorenzo Muntaner-Gimbernat
Paul O’Donnell
Şebnem Örgüç
Winston J. Rennie
Santiago Resano
Philip Robinson
Simone A. J. Ter Horst
Kirsten van Langevelde
Klaus Wörtler
Marita Koelz
Joannis Panotopoulos
Reinhard Windhager
Barbara J. Fueger
Maximilian Schmid
Filip M. Vanhoenacker
Publication date
18-12-2024
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-024-11242-0