Diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution MRI as a method to predict potentially safe endoscopic and surgical planes in patients with early rectal cancer

• Published in: BMJ open gastroenterology 2017, Vol.4 (1), p.e000151-e000151
• Main Authors: Balyasnikova, Svetlana, Read, James, Wotherspoon, Andrew, Rasheed, S, Tekkis, Paris, Tait, Diana, Cunningham, David, Brown, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Cancer therapies; Colorectal Cancer; Endoscopy; Histopathology; Medical diagnosis; Medical prognosis; Medical screening; Methods; Microsurgery; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Polyps; R&D; Research & development; Surgery; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 2054-4774; 2054-4774
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2017-000151

IntroductionEarly rectal cancer (ERC) assessment should include prediction of the potential excision plane to safely remove lesions with clear deep margins and feasibility of organ preservation.MethodMRI accuracy for differentiating ≤T1sm2 (partially preserved submucosa) or ≤T2 (partially preserved muscularis) versus >T2 tumours was compared with the gold standard of pT stage T1sm1/2 versus ≤pT2 versus >pT2. N stage was also compared. The MRI protocol employed a standard surface phased array coil with a high resolution (0.6×0.6×3 mm resolution). The staging data were analysed from a prospectively recorded database of all ERC (≤mrT3b) treated by primary surgery.ResultsOf 65 0.7 suggesting good agreement. 44 out of 65 patients underwent radical surgery and 22 out of 44 were ≤mrT2. MRI accuracy to predict lymph node status was 84% (95% CI 70% to 92%), PPV 71% and NPV 90%. Among the 21 out of 65 (32%) patients undergoing local excision or TEM, 20 out of 21 were staged as MR≤T2 and confirmed as such by pathology. On follow-up, none had relapse. If the decision had been made to offer local excision on MRI TN staging rather than clinical assessment, a significant increase in organ preservation surgery from 32% to 60% would have been observed (difference 23%, 95% CI 9% to 35%).ConclusionsMRI is a useful tool for multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) wishing to optimise treatment options for ERC; these study findings will be validated in a prospective multicentre trial.