Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 8, Issue 5 263-267, Copyright © 1989 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Sonographic appearances of hemangiomas of skeletal muscle
L. E. Derchi, G. Balconi, L. De Flaviis, A. Oliva and F. Rosso
Istituto Radiologia, Catt. B, Universita di Genova, Italy.
The sonographic findings observed in seven patients with muscular
hemangiomas were reviewed. An intramuscular mass (size range of 1.5 to 10
cm) was seen in all cases. Five lesions had oval shapes and smooth margins;
two had irregular shapes and borders that were not clearly defined.
Hyperechoic structure was noted in three lesions; two were hypoechoic; two
had heterogeneous echo patterns. Three other muscular hemangiomas (two
hyperechoic, one heterogeneous) are reported in the sonographic literature.
Therefore, from the literature and from our own observations of
hemangiomas, a hyperechogenic mass is the most common sonographic
presentation of these tumors. However, there is not a specific sonographic
appearance to muscular hemangiomas and other diagnostic tests are needed to
establish the diagnosis.
