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MRI of anal cancer: assessing response to definitive chemoradiotherapy

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Abstract

Anal cancer is an uncommon malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract but has a relatively good prognosis with an 80% 5-year overall survival. In this article, we review the role of MRI for assessing treatment response in anal cancer after completion of definitive chemoradiotherapy. New generation MRI scanners with optimal-phased array body coils, resulting in better signal to noise and improved contrast and spatial resolution, have contributed to high-resolution imaging in clinical practice enabling visualization of relevant anatomy including the sphincter complex, adjacent structures, mesorectal and pelvic lymph nodes with a diameter down to 2 mm. Multiplanar, high-resolution T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted sequences have a role in initial locoregional staging of anal SCC, assisting radiotherapy planning, as well as in assessing response to treatment and treatment-related complications.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre based at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London and by the Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, funded by the Cancer Research UK and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in association with the Medical Research Council and Department of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Imaging 2, Level 1, Lambeth Wing, St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    S. Gourtsoyianni & V. Goh

  2. Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, King’s Health Partners, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK

    V. Goh

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  1. S. Gourtsoyianni
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  2. V. Goh
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Correspondence to S. Gourtsoyianni.

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Gourtsoyianni, S., Goh, V. MRI of anal cancer: assessing response to definitive chemoradiotherapy. Abdom Imaging 39, 2–17 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-013-0032-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-013-0032-6

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