Magnetic resonance imaging findings of angiosarcoma of the scalp.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of angiosarcoma of the scalp retrospectively.

METHODS

Eight patients with angiosarcoma of the scalp were included in this study. All patients were examined with 1.5-T MR imaging units and commercially available head coils.

RESULTS

In all 8 patients, MR images revealed thickened scalp or tumors with prolonged T1 and T2 relaxation times. They were well enhanced. T2-weighted MR imaging with fat saturation and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging with fat saturation clearly showed tumors invading the subcutaneous fat tissue and muscles. In 4 patients, the tumors were larger on MR images than on inspection.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic resonance imaging was useful in determining the extent of angiosarcoma of the scalp because it visualized the tumor invasion into surrounding structures that could not be seen on physical inspection.