Value of functional magnetic resonance imaging in predicting outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer

• Published in: Zhonghua wei chang wai ke za zhi Vol. 20; no. 5; p. 491
• Main Authors: Yu, Yishan, Yue, Jinbo, Yu, Jinming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 25.05.2017
• Subjects: Chemoradiotherapy - statistics & numerical data; Contrast Media; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - statistics & numerical data; Margins of Excision; Neoadjuvant Therapy - statistics & numerical data; Neoplasm Staging - instrumentation; Neoplasm Staging - methods; Neoplasm Staging - statistics & numerical data; Prognosis; Rectal Neoplasms - blood supply; Rectal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Rectal Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 1671-0274

Rectal cancer is one of the common cancers which poses a threat to the health of mankind. In recent years. Multi-modality treatment strategies for locally advanced rectal cancer improve the treatment efficiency. Accurate prediction of the treatment response after the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) can guide more suitable treatment strategy. MERCURY study proved the prognostic value of post-CRT standard morphologic MRI(T2-weighted) assessment of tumor regression grade(TRG), and MRI assessment of circumferential resection margin can guide the definitive surgery. Compared with standard morphologic MRI (T2-weighted), functional MRI, including diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI, has shown more promising results for the prediction of therapeutic response in rectal cancer. The addition of diffusion-weighted images to T2-weighted images improves the accuracy of restaging examinations for determination of complete pathologic responders. DCE can reflect the tumor micro-vascula