Correlation of MRI detected extramural vascular invasion with regional lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer

Aim: To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging-detected extramural vascular invasion (MR-EMVI) in predicting regional lymph node metastasis (RLNM) in patients with rectal cancer. Methods: A total of 183 patients were included. A set of clinical and imaging factors including MR-EMVI were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the risk factors for RLNM. Results: Among the clinical and imaging factors evaluated, MR-EMVI, pathologic EMVI, nodal size, and diffusion weighted imaging-detected positive nodes were independent predictors of RLNM. Conclusions: MR-EMVI may be an independent predictor of RLNM in patients with rectal cancer. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.