Abstract
The MERCURY Study Group has recently published a prospective observational study (see opposite) on the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in predicting curative resection of rectal cancer. This multicentre study from 11 colorectal units in Europe reported on 408 patients with rectal cancer who underwent MRI before total mesorectal excision. Standardised pathological examinations of the specimens constituted the basis against which the MRI findings were compared. During the last two decades, surgery for rectal cancer has been optimised by implementation of total mesorectal excision. The concept of this meticulous technique is surgery for cure by removal of all malignant tissue within an undamaged mesorectal fascia. Even though the mesorectal fascia cannot be considered the same as the plane of dissection in a preoperative situation, it is most important to visualise this fascia and the outer border of the tumour or any malignant A prospective observational study has concluded that MRI is the gold-standard
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