Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Buemi F, Bell D, et al. Skeletal muscle metastases. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-35310
Skeletal muscle metastases are uncommon compared to other sites and are generally seen in the context of widespread metastatic disease.
Post-mortem rates of skeletal metastases vary between 0.03% and 17% 1.
Most commonly asymptomatic 2,3.
Common primary tumours include 2,3:
Often the primary site is unknown.
Location
The most common sites for skeletal metastases are 1,3:
CT
MRI
Features include 4:
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Consider a primary soft tissue sarcoma or intramuscular abscess 2,3.
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2. Matsuda T, Machii R. Morphological distribution of lung cancer from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Vol. X. Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol. 2004;45 (4): 404. doi:10.1093/jjco/hyv041 - Pubmed citation
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3. Pretorius ES, Fishman EK. Helical CT of skeletal muscle metastases from primary carcinomas. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000;174 (2): 401-4. doi:10.2214/ajr.174.2.1740401 - Pubmed citation
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4. Arpaci T, Ugurluer G, Akbas T, Arpaci RB, Serin M. Imaging of the skeletal muscle metastases. (2012) European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 16 (15): 2057-63. Pubmed
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5. Akyurek S, Nalca Andrieu M, Hicsonmez A, et al. Skeletal muscle metastasis from malignant pleural mesothelioma. (2004) Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)). 16 (8): 585. Pubmed
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6. Heyer CM, Rduch GJ, Zgoura P, et al. Metastasis to skeletal muscle from esophageal adenocarcinoma. (2005) Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. 40 (8): 1000-4. doi:10.1080/00365520510023143 - Pubmed
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