Value of MRI in pre-operative assessment of rectal cancers and its impact on surgical decision and intervention

For accurate staging of rectal cancer, high-resolution MRI is the suggested imaging modality. The standard rectal MRI protocol uses thin-slice, high spatial resolution T2-weighted images to capture the rectal tumor and the surrounding perirectal tissues and also the mesorectum surrounding the rectum. Many other imaging modalities can be used to asses rectal tumors as lower GIT endoscopy and endo-luminal ultrasound, so the accuracy of MRI in assessment of rectal tumors is needed to be evaluated in comparison to the gold slandered methods (the operative and histo-pathological findings). This study had been performed on 60 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer in Minia university hospital and in the national cancer institute from March 2021 till February 3023. There was a good correlation between MRI and operative finding of the cases as regard Distance of the tumor from anal verge. There was agreement between MRI and operative finding as regard Location of the tumor with the accuracy of MRI was 92%. No Significant difference between the final pathology and MRI as regard Tumor staging and detecting lymph node metastasis. There was significant correlation between MRI and operative finding of the cases as regard meso-rectal fascia (MRF) involvement. So rectal MRI is an important tool in management of patients with rectal cancer as regard staging rectal cancer which can assist surgeons to obtain negative surgical margins. MRI facilitates the pre-operative accurate assessment of rectal tumors in order to improve patient outcomes.