Ultrasonographic Findings of Subcutaneous Angioleiomyomas in the Extremities Based on Pathologic Subtypes.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic findings of angioleiomyoma based on pathological subtypes.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with subcutaneous angioleiomyomas in the extremities were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists and a pathologist. Sonographic images were analyzed to evaluate each tumor's anatomic location, size, shape, margin, heterogeneity, echogenicity, associated findings, and vascularity.

RESULTS

Angioleiomyomas were divided into 3 subtypes: capillary (n = 16), venous (n = 22), and cavernous (n = 1). The one cavernous angioleiomyoma was a hypoechoic mass with rich vascularity. Hypoechogenicity was more frequently observed for venous tumors (77.3%) than for capillary tumors (43.8%), and isoechogenicity was more frequently observed for capillary tumors (56.2%) than for venous tumors (22.7%). Moderate vascularity was more frequently observed for venous tumors (59.1%) than for capillary tumors (12.5%), and little vascularity was more frequently observed for capillary tumors (62.5%) than for venous tumors (13.6%). The aforementioned findings including echogenicity (p = 0.034) and vascularity (p = 0.003) were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of sonographic findings of angioleiomyomas based on pathologic subtypes could be helpful for diagnosing angioleiomyoma and could increase diagnostic accuracy for superficial soft-tissue masses in our practice.