Investigation of the relationship between mesorectal adipose tissue volume measured by computed tomography and histopathological prognostic features in patients with rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and mesorectal adipose tissue (MAT) volumes and poor prognostic factors, including extramural venous invasion (EMVI) and perirectal fat invasion (PFI).

METHODS

All patients with rectal cancer who had undergone abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) from January 2015 to December 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. The quantitative measurement of the MAT and VAT volumes was conducted by two radiologists utilising CT based softwear programme. The measurements were compared with histopathologic parameters such as extramural venous invasion and perirectal fat invasion on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTS

A total of 148 patients were included in the study (58F, 90 M). The mean age of the patients was 59.45 ± 9.97 years. The mean values of both MAT and VAT volumes were found to be significantly higher in patients with positive EMVI than in those with negative EMVI (p < 0,05). Furthermore, the mean values of both MAT and VAT volumes were found to be significantly higher in patients with positive perirectal fat invasion (p < 0.05). Patients with positive EMVI and PFI also had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It may be the case that the volume of MAT and VAT are useful in predicting the prognosis of rectal cancer.