Tumours of the skeletal system

X-ray is always performed, and in many cases is able to characterise a lesion whether this is benign or malignant. If the detected structural changes are uncertain or do not appear like a typical benign lesion, further imaging is mandatory. Sometimes CT or a nuclear scan is performed, but MRI will often give most information, especially regarding any soft-tissue involvement which is of great pre-operative importance.

Nuclear scans are often used to detect occult metastases

Soft tissue tumours

MRI is of great importance, and will not only give the precise extent of a tumour, but also valuable information about muscle, nerve and vessel invasion or entrapment in malignant tumours. CT is of limited use, and X-ray is just done to rule out coherent bone changes.