Endorectal surface coil MR imaging as a staging technique for rectal carcinoma: a comparison study to rectal endosonography.

BACKGROUND

Preoperative staging of rectal cancer is critical for guiding therapy and prescribing the most appropriate treatment option. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the accuracy of endorectal surface coil magnetic resonance imaging (ERSCMRI) with endosonography (EUS) in staging rectal lesions.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with rectal carcinoma, initially detected by barium enema or sigmoidoscopy underwent ERSCMRI and EUS. Subsequent resection of the lesions was performed, and the staging accuracies of these two modalities are compared.

RESULTS

MR T-staging agreement with pathologic T-staging was similar to that of EUS, but MR enabled more accurate identification of nodal involvement.

CONCLUSION

ERSCMRI produced greater overall accuracy in staging for rectal carcinoma than did EUS.