Advanced MR Imaging and Ultrasound Fusion in Musculoskeletal Procedures.

Neoplastic musculoskeletal lesions are heterogeneous tumors with variable outcomes that require a precise diagnosis and delivery of optimal, specific treatment. Advanced MR imaging techniques can help differentiate and characterize musculoskeletal soft tissue tumors and are the method of choice for detection, evaluation, local staging, and surgical planning. MR imaging-ultrasound fusion is the process of combining relevant information from 2 methods into a single image that is more informative than the images obtained separately. This article assesses the potential of fusing real-time ultrasound spatial registration with previously acquired musculoskeletal MR imaging to guide tumor tissue biopsies and procedures.