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Review
. 2018 Aug;9(4):405-412.
doi: 10.1007/s13244-018-0606-5. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Rectal cancer MRI: protocols, signs and future perspectives radiologists should consider in everyday clinical practice

Andrea Delli Pizzi  1 , Raffaella Basilico  2 , Roberta Cianci  2 , Barbara Seccia  2 , Mauro Timpani  2 , Alessandra Tavoletta  2 , Daniele Caposiena  2 , Barbara Faricelli  2 , Daniela Gabrielli  2 , Massimo Caulo  3
Affiliations
Review

Rectal cancer MRI: protocols, signs and future perspectives radiologists should consider in everyday clinical practice

Andrea Delli Pizzi et al. Insights Imaging. 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows to non-invasively evaluate rectal cancer staging and to assess the presence of "prognostic signs" such as the distance from the anorectal junction, the mesorectal fascia infiltration and the extramural vascular invasion. Moreover, MRI plays a crucial role in the assessment of treatment response after chemo-radiation therapy, especially considering the growing interest in the new conservative policy (wait and see, minimally invasive surgery). We present a practical overview regarding the state of the art of the MRI protocol, the main signs that radiologists should consider for their reports during their clinical activity and future perspectives.

Teaching points: • MRI protocol for rectal cancer staging and re-staging. • MRI findings that radiologists should consider for reports during everyday clinical activity. • Perspectives regarding the development of latest technologies.

Keywords: Chemo-radiation treatment response; Complete responders; Diffusion-weighted imaging; Locally advanced rectal cancer; Magnetic resonance imaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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