Feasibility of high resolution Readout-segmented echo planar imaging with simultaneous multi-slice in the assessment of rectal cancer

DWI has an important role in the staging and treatment response assessment of patients with rectal cancer, but its resolution is much lower than dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and T2W images. We achieved a high-resolution scan of the rectal cancer using SMS HR rs-EPI sequences with a resolution of 1.1×1.1×2 mm3. The SMS HR rs-EPI provided a significantly better image quality and more valuable ADC than conventional HR rs-EPI when assessing rectal cancer. The pretreatment ADC values of HR rs-EPI could be utilized to distinguish well and poorly differentiated rectal cancer.