MRI of mesorectum and rectal cancer staging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for rectal cancer staging. MRI plays a key role in the pretreatment and posttreatment evaluation of rectal cancer, facilitating the development of appropriate treatment plans. An accurate preoperative examination using pelvic MRI is used to determine the TNM staging and the status of the circumferential resection margin. Furthermore, MRI can detect mucinous rectal cancer, which is diagnosed predominantly in the younger population, presents at an advanced stage, and has a poor prognosis. Other prognostic features with a negative predictive value, such as extramural venous invasion, suspicious lymph nodal involvement, and sphincteric invasion, can also be assessed using MRI.