Muscle metastases: comparison of features in different primary tumours

Abstract

Background Muscle metastases (MM) from solid tumours are rare. The aim of this study was to describe radiological features of MM, and to compare their patterns in different malignancies. Methods A retrospective search in the statistical database of our institution revealed 61 cases of MM. Additionally, a retrospective search in Pubmed database was performed. Together with our cases the present analysis comprises 461 patients (682 MM). Results MM derived from the following malignancies: lung cancer (25.1%), gastrointestinal tumours (21.0%), and urological tumours (13.2%). Other neoplasias with MM were rare. MM were localised most frequently in the thigh muscles, the extraocular musculature, and the gluteal and paravertebral muscles. The localisation of MM was different in several primary malignancies. On computed tomography (CT), five different patterns of MM occurred: masses with homogeneous contrast enhancement (type I, 46.5%), abscess-like lesions (type II, 27.7%), diffuse infiltration with muscle swelling (type III, 18.1%), intramuscular calcifications (type IV, 6.5%), or MM presented as intramuscular bleeding (type V, 1.2%). MM from several primary tumours manifested with different CT patterns. On MRI, most MM were hyperintense in comparison to unaffected musculature in T2 weighted images and hypo- to isointense on T1 weighted images with a heterogeneous enhancement. There were no differences in MRI features of MM in different primary tumours. On ultrasound, most MM were hypoechoic. On positron emission tomography, MM presented as focally abnormal intramuscular uptake. Conclusion MM present with a broad spectrum of radiological features. Different CT imaging findings of MM were observed in different primary tumours. The localisation of MM also varies with different primary malignancies.

Prevalence, distribution, and clinical characteristics of hemangiosarcoma‐associated skeletal muscle metastases in 61 dogs: A whole body computed tomographic study

“…In dogs, HSA may be solitary, multifocal within an organ, or widely disseminated at presentation and because of its intimate association with the vasculature, facilitating extravasation and angiogenesis of metastatic clones, it is typified by very aggressive biologic behavior, with rapid and widespread metastasis occurring frequently . In our study population, we found that the prevalence of SMMs in dogs with HSA was higher in comparison with previously published studies in the human and veterinary medical literature . The higher prevalence of SMM in our cohort may reflect some selection bias and may be higher than that seen in all dogs with HSA.…”

Imaging Diagnosis—ultrasonographic Appearance of Skeletal Muscle Metastases in a Dog With Hemangiosarcoma

“…Skeletal muscle metastases are considered a rare event, in both people and animals . In veterinary patients, muscular metastases have been mainly diagnosed based on necropsy, biopsy, or CT, but reports describing ultrasonographic features of these lesions are lacking.…”

“…In people, ultrasonographic features of muscular metastases have been reported in only 39 cases . Most of them appeared hypoechoic, with smooth or lobulated contours and with detectable internal Color and Doppler signals .…”

“…In people, ultrasonographic features of muscular metastases have been reported in only 39 cases . Most of them appeared hypoechoic, with smooth or lobulated contours and with detectable internal Color and Doppler signals . However, in a few cases metastatic nodules presented as completely anechoic lesions without Doppler signal, simulating cystic lesions .…”

CT imaging features of skeletal muscle metastasis: A rare tumour group with different patterns

“…2 Regarding localization, most commonly the trunk musculature and the iliopsoas muscles were involved. [2][3][4] Notably, some tumours tend to spread to certain muscles favourably. 4 So, breast cancer tend to metastasize more frequently to the extraocular musculature compared to other tumours.…”