title: Preoperative evaluation of pelvic lateral lymph node of patients with lower rectal cancer: comparison study of MR imaging and CT in 53 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preoperative assessment of the lateral pelvic lymph nodes is important for treatment strategy to patients with lower rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with primary lower rectal cancer were preoperatively assessed by spiral computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T with a phased-array coil. Preoperative tumor and lymph node stages were compared with the final histological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MRI tumor stage coincided with the histological stage in 36 of 53 patients (68%). The MRI and CT lymph node stage coincided with the histological stage in 33 (62%) and 26 (49%) of 53 patients, respectively. However the accuracy of MRI in detecting the lateral pelvic lymph node involvement was 83%, compared to 77% of CT (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the use of MRI, the lateral pelvic lymph node involvement can be predicted with high accuracy, allowing preoperative identification of patients who need radiotherapy or extensive surgery to escape recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arii
authors.forename: Katsunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takifuji
authors.forename: Shozo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higashiguchi
authors.forename: Toshiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oku
authors.forename: Masaji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed