The ability of magnetic resonance imaging to predict lymph node metastases and the risk of recurrence in rectal cancer

AimThis study aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected lymph nodes in rectal cancer. MethodWe evaluated 806 rectal cancer patients consecutively operated on between 2015 and 2018 at Helsinki University Hospital. In total, 485 patients met the inclusion criteria of presenting with stage I-III disease and were intended for curative treatment at the time of diagnosis. The effect of MRI-detected clinical lymph node status (cN) on cumulative overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. ResultsNegative predictive value (NPV) of MRI-lymphnode negativity was 74.8%. Positive predictive value of lymph node metastasis was only 48.6%. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, OS (p = 0.989), DSS (p = 0.911), and DFS (p = 0.109) did not significantly differ according to MRI nodal status. However, cumulative disease-free survival significantly (p < 0.001) differed according to the histopathological lymph node metastasis status (pN). ConclusionsMRI detected lymph node positivity appears insufficiently precise and cannot predict disease recurrence or survival. Therefore, it should not serve as an independent risk factor when considering neoadjuvant treatment options for rectal cancer patients.