Post-cryoablation magnetic resonance imaging features of desmoid tumors: a pictorial essay

Desmoid tumors (DTs) are rare, locally aggressive soft tissue neoplasms with highly variable clinical behavior. Although benign, their infiltrative nature can lead to considerable morbidity. DTs present a major challenge due to their unpredictable behavior and potential for misdiagnosis. Recently, there has been a large shift in the treatment strategy for DTs, and the number of cases being followed up with imaging has increased. Cryoablation has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option, yet post-procedural imaging features remain poorly characterized. This study illustrates the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evolution of DTs following percutaneous cryoablation, emphasizing key patterns across pre-treatment, intra-procedural, and follow-up studies. The available MRI follow-up ranged from 6 to 30 months. Through a pictorial approach, we aimed to provide radiologists with practical insights to avoid misinterpretation of expected post-treatment changes as recurrence and to improve clinical management.