Dynamic MR imaging of osteoid osteomas: correlation of semiquantitative and quantitative perfusion parameters with patient symptoms and treatment outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between multiple MR perfusion parameters and symptoms of patients with osteoid osteomas after percutaneous laser therapy.

METHODS: MR perfusion studies of 20 patients diagnosed with an osteoid osteoma, treated with CT-guided percutaneous laser therapy, were retrospectively evaluated. Multiple perfusion parameters correlated with the treatment outcome and the presence of osteoid osteoma-related symptoms.

RESULTS: There were 16 successful treatments, 6 recurrences and a significant difference in the perfusion parameters of these groups (P < 0.0001). Patients with successful treatment demonstrated delayed progressive enhancement or no enhancement (mean time to peak = 182 s, mean delay to the arterial peak = 119.3 s). Patients with treatment failure demonstrated an early and steep enhancement (mean time to peak = 78 s and mean delay to the arterial peak = 24 s). Plasmatic volume and transfer constant values significantly changed after successful treatment (P < 0.008). MR perfusion has a sensitivity and a specificity higher than 90 % in the detection of recurrent osteoid osteomas.

CONCLUSION: The identification of an early and steep enhancement with short time to peak and a short delay between the arterial and nidus peaks on MR perfusion in the postoperative setting is highly indicative of an osteoid osteoma recurrence. Key points • Magnetic resonance perfusion is becoming widely used for several tumours. • MR perfusion measurements correlate well with osteoid osteoma-related symptoms. • MR perfusion has high diagnostic performance for osteoid osteoma recurrence. • MR perfusion can improve the diagnostic confidence of osteoid osteoma recurrence.