Endorectal magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative staging of rectal tumors

A proper preoperative staging of rectal tumors is important for correct treatment planning. We included in our study 23 patients with rectal carcinoma in order to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of endorectal MRI. This technique enabled us to show neoplasms as a hyperintense lesion as compared to the muscolaris. To better delineate the real dimensions of the neoplasms and reduce chemical shift artifact we performed T2 weighted TSE sequences with and without fat suppression. The diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of T and N factors as compared to surgery was respectively 78.2%o and 78.9%. The major problem has been a slight tendency to overstage parietal infiltration and lymphnodal involvement. Endorectal MRI allows us to obtain an excellent anatomic detail of the three rectal wall layers and a very high spatial resolution which might make this technique the examination of choice in the evaluation of rectal carcinoma.