Abstract
Rectal cancers are one of the most frequent digestive cancers. Most of them are diagnosed during organized cancer screening or based on evocative symptoms. After a thorough clinical examination including rectal examination, the next step is to confirm the diagnosis by colonoscopy with biopsies. Once diagnosis is confirmed, other imaging exams are necessary to assess loco-regional extension and metastatic spread. Rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and thoracic-abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) are the modalities of choice, respectively for locoregional and metastatic spread. MRI protocol is standardized, and its report must provide specific information to guide surgical and nonsurgical management options (especially tumor localization, local poor prognosis factors and node involvement). Thoraco-abdominal-pelvic CT especially seeks for liver and lung metastasis. Other imaging modalities (such as endoscopic ultrasound and positron emission tomography scan) are reserved for specific cases.
MeSH :
Humans,
Magnetic Resonance Imaging,
Neoplasm Staging,
Positron-Emission Tomography,
Rectal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging,
Rectal Neoplasms/therapy,
Sensitivity and Specificity,
Tomography,
X-Ray Computed.
Keywords :
Rectal Neoplasms.
