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Published in: Abdominal Radiology 9/2023

26-04-2023 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Review

A primer on rectal MRI in patients on watch-and-wait treatment for rectal cancer

Authors: Marc J. Gollub, James R. Costello, Randy D. Ernst, Sonia Lee, Ekta Maheshwari, Iva Petkovska, Ashish P. Wasnik, Natally Horvat

Published in: Abdominal Radiology | Issue 9/2023

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Abstract

Total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) for rectal cancer is becoming an accepted treatment paradigm and is changing the landscape of this disease, wherein up to 50% of patients who undergo TNT are able to avoid surgery. This places new demands on the radiologist in terms of interpreting degrees of response to treatment. This primer summarizes the Watch-and-Wait approach and the role of imaging, with illustrative “atlas-like” examples as an educational guide for radiologists. We present a brief literature summary of the evolution of rectal cancer treatment, with a focus on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of response. We also discuss recommended guidelines and standards. We outline the common TNT approach entering mainstream practice. A heuristic and algorithmic approach to MRI interpretation is also offered. To illustrate management and common scenarios, we arranged the illustrative figures as follows: (I) Clinical complete response (cCR) achieved at the immediate post-TNT “decision point” scan time; (II) cCR achieved at some point during surveillance, later than the first post-TNT MRI; (III) near clinical complete response (nCR); (IV) incomplete clinical response (iCR); (V) discordant findings between MRI and endoscopy where MRI is falsely positive, even at follow-up; (VI) discordant cases where MRI seems to be falsely positive but is proven truly positive on follow-up endoscopy; (VII) cases where MRI is falsely negative; (VIII) regrowth of tumor in the primary tumor bed; (IX) regrowth outside the primary tumor bed; and (X) challenging scenarios, i.e., mucinous cases. This primer is offered to achieve its intended goal of educating radiologists on how to interpret MRI in patients with rectal cancer undergoing treatment using a TNT-type treatment paradigm and a Watch-and-Wait approach.

Graphical abstract

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Metadata
Title
A primer on rectal MRI in patients on watch-and-wait treatment for rectal cancer
Authors
Marc J. Gollub
James R. Costello
Randy D. Ernst
Sonia Lee
Ekta Maheshwari
Iva Petkovska
Ashish P. Wasnik
Natally Horvat
Publication date
26-04-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Abdominal Radiology / Issue 9/2023
Print ISSN: 2366-004X
Electronic ISSN: 2366-0058
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-023-03900-6

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