Correlation study of functional magnetic resonance index and clinicopathological features of rectal cancer

To investigate the correlation between DCE-MRI, R2*, IVIM, and clinicopathological features of rectal cancer.

This was a prospective study, enrolling 42 patients with rectal cancer, 20 of whom underwent rectal mesorectal excision. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scanning was performed preoperatively in all patients, and additional preoperative scanning of R2* imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion was performed in those who underwent surgery. Artificially delineate the ROI around the tumor. Functional magnetic resonance index parameters K^trans, V_e, R2*, D, D*, and f were estimated by computer software to analyze postoperative pathological reports of patients undergoing total mesenteric resection. Correlation and significance analyses of imaging metrics and pathologic features were performed by GraphPad Prism 9 to assess statistical significance.

DEC-MRI, R2*, and IVIM have certain application values in the distance from the lower margin of the tumor to the anorectal ring, imaging T stage and N stage, tumor markers CEA and CA199, immunohistochemical indexes Ki-76 and P53, lymph node cancer metastasis, and rectal fascia status (P < 0.05).

DEC-MRI, R2*, and IVIM provide reliable quantitative parameters for preoperative clinicopathological evaluation of patients with rectal cancer.