MR imaging of skeletal muscle hemangiomas : A report of 16 cases

Our purpose was to evaluate how MR imaging depicts the vascular fibrofatty structure of hemangiomas. MR images of 16 histologically proven skeletal muscle hemangiomas were reviewed retrospectively in a nonblinded manner. One patient was examined at 0.5 T, 9 at 1.0 T, and 6 at 1.5 T, and the imaging protocols varied. All lesions were lobulated/tubular. Signal characteristics of fat were seen in 13 lesions as lace-like thin septa within or around the tumor. All 16 studies exhibited a hyperintense signal on T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) (n=15) or T1-weighted fast fat suppressed inversion recovery SE images (n=1). Postcontrast images showed marked signal enhancement in parts of the areas, both of high and low T2-weighted signal. Surgical staging based on MR images was correct in all lesions. MR images display the characteristic vascular fibrofatty structure of hemangiomas and may allow correct diagnosis.