ABSTRACT
Rectal cancer is common, and accurate preoperative staging of tumours using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial part of modern multidisciplinary team management. The importance of MRI in staging rectal cancer relates specifically to the ability to delineate tumour extension with respect to surgically relevant landmarks, primarily the mesorectal fascia and sphincter complex. This has significant therapeutic implications regarding the need or otherwise for neoadjuvant therapy, sphincter preservation and plane of surgery that can have a major impact upon the patient’s survival and quality of life. With the development of effective coil systems and high-resolution surface body coils, MRI looks likely to maintain and expand its current position as the imaging modality of choice for planning an effective therapeutic strategy in patients with advanced rectal cancer.
