Current trends in staging rectal cancer

Figure 1 Computerized tomography. A: Computerized tomography (CT) abdomen showing a patient with rectal cancer having liver metastasis and ascites; B: CT Chest showing a patient with rectal cancer having lung metastasis.

Figure 2 Coronal magnetic resonance imaging (arrow) showing possible lymph node or early vascular involvement.

Figure 3 Magnetic resonance imaging (arrow) showing possible extension beyond the muscularis propria, radiologically staged as early T₃.

Figure 4 Coronal T2 W magnetic resonance imaging (arrow) showing the intact muscularis propria in a patient with rectal cancer. Radiologically staged as T₁ or T₂.

Figure 5 Magnetic resonance imaging. A: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (arrow) showing the rectal cancer involving the circumferential resection margin; B: MRI (arrow) showing the rectal cancer invading the ischiorectal fat on the right (T₄).