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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Soft tissue masses are predominantly benign, with a benign-to-malignant ratio exceeding 100:1, often located around joints. They may be contiguous or adjacent to joints or reflect systemic diseases or distant organ involvement. Clinically, they typically present as palpable swellings. Evaluation should consider duration, size, depth, and mobility. Also assess consistency, growth rate, symptoms, and history of trauma, infection, or malignancy. Laboratory tests are generally of limited diagnostic value. The primary clinical goal is to avoid unnecessary investigations or procedures for benign lesions while ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment of malignant ones. Imaging plays a central role: it confirms the presence of the lesion, assesses its location, size, and composition, differentiates between cystic and solid or benign and malignant features, and can sometimes provide a definitive diagnosis. Imaging is also crucial for biopsy planning, treatment strategy, identification of involved structures, and follow-up. Ultrasound (US) is the first-line imaging modality for palpable soft tissue masses due to its low cost, wide availability, and lack of ionizing radiation. If findings are inconclusive, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) is recommended. This review aims to discuss the most common causes of periarticular soft tissue masses in the appendicular skeleton, focusing on clinical presentation and radiologic features.

Details

Title
Imaging Evaluation of Periarticular Soft Tissue Masses in the Appendicular Skeleton: A Pictorial Review
Author
Pucciarelli, Francesco 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Faugno Maria Carla 1 ; Valanzuolo Daniela 1 ; Massaro Edoardo 1 ; De Sanctis Lorenzo Maria 1 ; Zaccaria, Elisa 1 ; Zerunian Marta 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; De Santis Domenico 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Polici Michela 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Polidori Tiziano 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Laghi, Andrea 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Caruso Damiano 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Radiology Unit, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant’Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (M.C.F.); [email protected] (D.V.); [email protected] (E.M.); [email protected] (L.M.D.S.); [email protected] (E.Z.); [email protected] (M.Z.); [email protected] (D.D.S.); [email protected] (M.P.); [email protected] (T.P.); [email protected] (D.C.) 
 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, Italy; [email protected], Department of Diagnostic Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy 
First page
217
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
2313433X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3233226074
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.