MR Imaging of Common Soft Tissue Masses in the Foot and Ankle.

Soft tissue masses may be encountered in the foot and ankle and may represent true neoplasms, malignant or benign, or other, nonneoplastic entities that mimic musculoskeletal tumors. This article reviews common soft tissue masses encountered in the foot or ankle, highlights their MR imaging appearance, and outlines common pitfalls. Technical considerations for imaging soft tissue masses in the foot and ankle are discussed. On MR imaging, T1-weighted and T2-weighted signal intensity, contrast enhancement characteristics, and lesion location, together with patient demographics, history and physical examination, and findings on radiographs, can be useful in characterizing masses in the foot and ankle.