Local Staging Of Rectal Carcinoma Research Articles

Preoperative MRI evaluation of mesorectum in cases of rectal carcinoma

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MRI in preoperative staging, in the prediction of negative circumferential resection margin (CRM), and in the planning of surgical management for rectal carcinoma. Background Rectal cancer constitutes about one-third of all gastrointestinal tumors. Preoperative imaging for staging of rectal cancer has become an important aspect of the current approach to rectal cancer management because it helps to select suitable patients for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and determine the appropriate surgical technique. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of MRI in the preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma, in the prediction of negative CRM, and for planning its surgical management. To this end we aimed to study its efficacy in preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma (T and N stages), in evaluating mesorectal fat and fascia involvement, and in the prediction of negative CRM. Patients and methods Thirty-seven patients with pathologically proven rectal carcinoma underwent pelvic MRI on a 1.5 T magnet with pelvic phased array coil with transrectal gel administration. The MRI protocol was adhered to. All cases were operated upon and their postoperative specimens were compared with preoperative MRI results. Results Comparable to histopathological examination, MRI correctly diagnosed in 34 out of 37 patients in different T stages (accuracy 91.9%) and in 32 out of 37 patients in different N stages (accuracy 86.5%). Accuracy in the evaluation of mesorectal fat invasion was 97.3%, that in the evaluation of mesorectal fascia invasion was 94.5%, and that in the evaluation of CRM was 97.3%. Conclusion MRI of rectal cancer is accurate for preoperative staging, evaluation of mesorectal fat and fascia, prediction of negative CRM, and evaluation of lymph node involvement.

Feasibility and accuracy of TRUS in the pre-treatment staging for rectal carcinoma in general practice

Aims Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) is the diagnostic tool of choice for local staging of rectal carcinoma. The accuracy in determining of tumour infiltration depth has been reported to reach 95% (on average, 85%). The aim of the study was to analyse the diagnostic accuracy of the TRUS in the clinical routine. Patients and methods From 01/01/2000 to 12/31/2003, all patients with rectal carcinoma were enrolled in a prospective multicenter observational study. In case of complete findings of pre-operative TRUS and post-operative histological investigation of the surgical specimen on the tumour infiltration depth, overall accuracy of TRUS was determined. Results Overall, 13,610 patients with rectal carcinoma were enrolled in the study. Five thousand and fifty-six subjects (37%) underwent TRUS. In 3,501 patients, TRUS finding (uT-stage) could be compared with the result of the definitive histologic investigation (pT-stage). The accuracy of TRUS in all T-stages was 65.8%. The highest sensitivity was achieved in the T 3-stage (74.9%), while in T 2, T 1, and T 4, it was 59.6, 59.0 and 31.1%, respectively. In discriminating tumour growth limited to the rectal wall vs that through the rectal wall into the neighboring tissue, TRUS-associated accuracy was 76.5%. There were no differences between various tumour locations above the anocutaneous line. Conclusions Diagnostic accuracy of TRUS in determining depth of tumour infiltration within or through the rectum wall in the routinuous diagnostic of rectal carcinoma does not reach the excellent published study results. A considerable improvement of the qualitative outcome in using this specific diagnostic tool appears to be recommendable to utilize its advantages such as high accuracy, efficacy, and practicability in the diagnostic process and deriving consequences for a possible neoadjuvant treatment as well as optimal planning of the surgical approach.

Local staging of rectal carcinoma and assessment of the circumferential resection margin with high‐resolution MRI using an integrated parallel acquisition technique

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of integrated parallel acquisition technique (iPAT) in local staging of rectal carcinoma in comparison to conventional high-resolution MRI. A total of 28 patients with a neoplasm of the rectum and 15 control patients underwent MRI of the pelvis. High-resolution images were acquired conventionally and with iPAT using a modified sensitivity encoding (mSENSE). Image quality, signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNR, CNR), tumor extent, nodal status, and delineation of the circumferential resection margin (CRM) were compared. In 19 patients with a carcinoma, MR findings were correlated with the histopathological diagnosis. Tumor distance to the CRM was matched with resection specimen in 12 cases. The comparison of both MR techniques revealed no clinically relevant differences in tumor staging and delineation of the CRM, though SNR and CNR were significantly lower in mSENSE images. Tumor stage was concordant in 17 of 19 cases compared to histopathology. In four of nine patients with T3 and T4 carcinomas, the histopathological resection margin was < or =2 mm, in five cases MRI predicted a margin of < or =2 mm. The application of iPAT in local staging of rectal carcinoma is time-saving and does not degrade diagnostic accuracy. Tumor stage, nodal status, and the CRM can be assessed equally compared to conventional acquisition techniques.

Noninvasive automated measurement of vascular lumen using multislice CT: basic phantom study

Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT, or multislice CT) is a new modality with four detectors, which makes examination time shorter and produces higher resolution and multiplanar reformation of the images. Its diagnostic role in patients with rectal carcinoma has not been determined.Twenty-one patients with rectal carcinoma were preoperatively examined by both MDCT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic accuracies of both modalities were compared regarding depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis based on the pathologic findings.Both examinations detected all tumors. Regarding depth of tumor invasion, the concordance was 95.2% (20 of 21) for MDCT and 100% (21 of 21) for MRI. Regarding lymph node metastasis, the overall accuracy was 61.9% for MDCT and 70.0% for MRI.Multidetector-row computed tomography was equal to MRI in the preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma.

A prospective comparison between multidetector-row computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative evaluation of rectal carcinoma

Background Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT, or multislice CT) is a new modality with four detectors, which makes examination time shorter and produces higher resolution and multiplanar reformation of the images. Its diagnostic role in patients with rectal carcinoma has not been determined. Methods Twenty-one patients with rectal carcinoma were preoperatively examined by both MDCT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic accuracies of both modalities were compared regarding depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis based on the pathologic findings. Results Both examinations detected all tumors. Regarding depth of tumor invasion, the concordance was 95.2% (20 of 21) for MDCT and 100% (21 of 21) for MRI. Regarding lymph node metastasis, the overall accuracy was 61.9% for MDCT and 70.0% for MRI. Conclusions Multidetector-row computed tomography was equal to MRI in the preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma.

Preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma using MR imaging

Preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma using MR imaging

Endoscopic MRI using 3D-spoiled GRASS (SPGR) sequence for local staging of rectal carcinoma.

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with an MR endoscope to evaluate the depth of invasion of rectal carcinomas. Twenty-two patients with rectal carcinomas were studied prior to surgery with MRI using a 3D-fast spoiled GRASS (SPGR) sequence, a nonmagnetic endoscope and an antenna probe. The MR images on 3D-fast SPGR sequence showed that the normal bowel mucosa had a high signal intensity, the submucosal layer had a low signal intensity, and the muscularis propria had moderate signal intensity. Small tumors had moderate signal intensity similar to the muscularis propria. Advanced tumors with considerable volume revealed heterogeneous findings with intermediate and low signal intensities. The depth of wall invasion by rectal carcinoma was correctly staged with endoscopic MRI in 16 of 22 patients. This technique may be useful for the accurate staging of the depth of invasion by rectal carcinomas.

Endoscopic US of the gastrointestinal tract with endoscopic, radiographic, and pathologic correlation.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (US) makes it possible to evaluate the layers of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as surrounding structures. The authors have used endoscopic US to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract in 160 patients. In the esophagus, endoscopic US is useful in staging esophageal carcinoma, planning radiation therapy ports, and locating and characterizing esophageal masses. Endoscopic US of the esophagus is also used to identify varices and evaluate the results of therapy. Applications of endoscopic US in the stomach include staging of gastric carcinoma, localization and characterization of nonmucosal gastric masses, detection and evaluation of gastric varices, and evaluation of gastric lymphoma. In the pancreas, endoscopic US is used for detecting pancreatic masses; staging pancreatic, distal common bile duct, and ampullary carcinoma; and evaluation biliary tract obstruction. Applications of endoscopic US in the rectum include localization and characterization of nonmucosal lesions and local staging of rectal carcinoma.

Preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma with MR imaging and a rectal balloon.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the preoperative assessment of rectal carcinoma was evaluated. Thirty-three patients underwent MR imaging with a 1.5-T unit. On the basis of results of barium enema studies and/or digital examination, a balloon catheter was inserted to the level of the lesion before MR imaging. Both T1- and T2-weighted axial spin-echo images were obtained in all patients. With the balloon catheter, the three layers of the normal bowel wall could be seen on T2-weighted images. Muscular invasion was detected with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 84%, a positive predictive value of 90%, a negative predictive value of 84%, and an overall accuracy of 88%. False-positive results were related to chemical shift artifact and intramural lymph node metastases. Perirectal fat invasion was detected with a sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 89%, a positive predictive value of 82%, a negative predictive value of 77%, and an overall accuracy of 79%. One of the false-positive results was related to intramural lymph node metastases and the other to perirectal vessels. Evaluation of adjacent organ invasion was accurate in all patients. Lymph node metastasis was correctly detected in six of nine patients. Absence of lymph node metastasis was correctly predicted in 23 of 24 patients. Thus, MR imaging with a balloon catheter was useful for detection of tumor invasion into muscularis propria and adjacent organs; however, its demonstration of perirectal fat and lymph node involvement was less accurate.