Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Improved detection of a tumorous involvement of the mesorectal fascia and locoregional lymph nodes in locally advanced rectal cancer using DCE-MRI.

PURPOSE: The prediction of an infiltration of the mesorectal fascia (MRF) and malignant lymph nodes is essential for treatment planning and prognosis of patients with rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the additional diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for the detection of a malignant involvement of the MRF and of mesorectal lymph nodes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

METHODS: In this prospective study, 22 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were examined with 1.5-T MRI between September 2012 and April 2015. Histopathological assessment of tumor size, tumor infiltration to the MRF, and malignant involvement of locoregional lymph nodes served as standard of reference. Sensitivity and specificity of detecting MRF infiltration and malignant nodes (nodal cut-off size [NCO] ≥ 5 and ≥ 10 mm, respectively) was determined by conventional MRI (cMRI; precontrast and postcontrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and diffusion-weighted images) and by additional semi-quantitative DCE-MRI maps (cMRI+DCE-MRI).

RESULTS: Compared to cMRI, additional semi-quantitative DCE-MRI maps significantly increased sensitivity (86 vs. 71% [NCO ≥ 5 mm]/29% [NCO ≥ 10 mm]) and specificity (90 vs. 70% [NCO ≥ 5 mm]) of detecting malignant lymph nodes (p < 0.05). Moreover, DCE-MRI significantly augmented specificity (91 vs. 82%) of discovering a MRF infiltration (p < 0.05), while there was no change in sensitivity (83%; p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI considerably increases both sensitivity and specificity for the detection of small mesorectal lymph node metastases (≥ 5 mm but < 10 mm) and sufficiently improves specificity of a suspected MRF infiltration in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app