Topic Highlight
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2014; 20(15): 4244-4255
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4244
Multimodal imaging evaluation in staging of rectal cancer
Suk Hee Heo, Jin Woong Kim, Sang Soo Shin, Yong Yeon Jeong, Heoung-Keun Kang
Suk Hee Heo, Jin Woong Kim, Yong Yeon Jeong, Heoung-Keun Kang, Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeollanam-do 519-763, South Korea
Sang Soo Shin, Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwang-ju 501-757, South Korea
Author contributions: Heo SH and Jeong YY contributed equally to conception, design, drafting, revision and final approval of the article; Kim JW, Shin SS and Kang HK contributed to editing, drafting, revision and final approval of the article.
Supported by A grant (CRI 13041-22) of the Chonnam National University Hospital Research Institute of Clinical Medicine
Correspondence to: Yong Yeon Jeong, MD, Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, 322 Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do 519-763,South Korea. yjeong@jnu.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-61-3797113 Fax: +82-61-3797133
Received: September 27, 2013
Revised: December 20, 2013
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: In rectal cancer, accurate staging and circumferential resection margin assessment are essential for stratifying the risks of recurrence and determining the optimal therapeutic strategy for individual patients. In the preoperative setting, a combination of multimodal imaging methods, including endorectal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to precisely assess the preoperative staging of rectal cancer. However, restaging after neoadjuvant therapy remains a challenge with all of these modalities. Recently, high-resolution MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging and/or positron emission tomography-CT imaging methods have been developed to precisely assess the restaging of rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy.