Fluid-fluid levels in bone tumours

Last revised by Tariq Walizai on 14 Nov 2024

Fluid-fluid levels in bone tumours is a commonly encountered finding, both in benign as well as malignant bone tumours, and can be used to differentiate between the two.

On the sagittal T2W image:

  1. measure the length of the largest fluid-fluid level (A)

  2. measure the maximum length of the tumour (B)

  3. calculate A/B ratio

  • an A/B ratio >41.5 means the tumour is more likely to be benign

  • an A/B ratio <41.5 means the tumour is more likely to be malignant 

The rationale behind this method of assessment is that areas of necrosis in a malignant tumour are more likely to result in multiple small fluid-fluid levels as compared to a benign tumour.

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