An audit of performance, interpretation, and influence of pretherapeutic MRI in rectal cancer: a Swedish population-based cohort study:

BackgroundThe performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation and communication of findings and its implication on treatment decisions has not fully been explored in rectal cancer.PurposeTo investigate in a region the adherence to MRI protocol standards and the relation between MRI interpretation and selection to preoperative therapy in rectal cancer.Material and MethodsData on consecutive patients who underwent elective rectal cancer surgery in the region from January to June 2010 were obtained from the National Colorectal Cancer Registry. Pretherapeutic MRI images were re-evaluated. Agreement between the original reports and the re-evaluation was compared using Cohen’s kappa coefficient.ResultsAmong the 94 patients included, 81 (86%) had pretherapeutic MRI in accordance with defined imaging guidelines. In 34% of the original MR reports, data on extramural venous invasion (mrEMVI) and mrT category were not reported. Complete tumor staging was not possible because of missing data in 33 (35%...