The Role of MRI in Evaluating Rectal Carcinoma

EasyChair Preprint 14609

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in the comprehensive evaluation of rectal carcinoma, offering detailed anatomical and functional insights that guide clinical decision-making. MRI is recognized for its superior soft-tissue contrast, enabling precise delineation of tumor boundaries, assessment of local invasion, and identification of key anatomical structures such as the mesorectal fascia. The ability to assess tumor staging, including depth of invasion (T stage), involvement of lymph nodes (N stage), and the presence of distant metastases (M stage), is enhanced by advanced MRI techniques. Moreover, MRI provides valuable information for planning surgical interventions, such as total mesorectal excision (TME), and for determining the necessity and extent of neoadjuvant therapy. The development of high-resolution pelvic MRI has improved the accuracy of staging and restaging, allowing for better stratification of patients and personalized treatment approaches. Additionally, functional MRI techniques, such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, offer insights into tumor biology, enabling the evaluation of tumor response to treatment and prediction of outcomes. Despite these advances, challenges remain in interpreting MRI findings, particularly in distinguishing post-treatment fibrosis from residual tumor. Ongoing research aims to refine MRI protocols and integrate them with other imaging modalities and molecular markers to enhance diagnostic precision and therapeutic planning in rectal carcinoma. Overall, MRI remains an indispensable tool in the multidisciplinary management of rectal carcinoma, contributing to improved patient outcomes through accurate staging, tailored treatment planning, and effective monitoring of therapeutic responses.

Keyphrases: Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Rectal carcinoma, Tumor Staging, diffusion weighted imaging, neoadjuvant therapy

@booklet{EasyChair:14609,
  author    = {John Owen},
  title     = {The Role of MRI in Evaluating Rectal Carcinoma},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 14609},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2024}}