Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast enhancement medium in bone and soft tissue tumors

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of a new magnetic resonance (MR) angiography technique that does not use contrast enhancement medium to depict the vascularity of musculoskeletal neoplasms, and evaluate its clinical utility. We performed 3D fresh blood imaging (FBI) MR angiography in 57 patients with bone or soft tissue tumors, and the detection of vessels in and around the tumor was evaluated. Moreover, differences in vascularity between benign and malignant tumors were analyzed. In the lower leg, large arteries such as femoral or popliteal arteries were visible. In the trunk or arm, large vessels such as subclavian or iliac arteries were visible. Discrimination between benign and malignant tumors was impossible in bone tumors; however, the mean value of vascularity differed between benign and malignant tumors in the soft tissue tumors. This is the first trial of the FBI method for bone and soft tissue tumors. The still developing method of MRA without contrast materials could clearly depict major arteries in the trunk and the extremities, this method may replace conventional MRA of bone and soft tissue tumors because it produces vivid images while being non-invasive.