title: Magnetic resonance imaging for the clinical management of rectal cancer patients: recommendations from the 2012 European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) consensus meeting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop guidelines describing a standardised approach regarding the acquisition, interpretation and reporting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for clinical staging and restaging of rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consensus meeting of 14 abdominal imaging experts from the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) was conducted following the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method. Two independent (non-voting) chairs facilitated the meeting. Two hundred and thirty-six items were scored by participants for appropriateness and classified subsequently as appropriate or inappropriate (defined by ≥ 80 % consensus) or uncertain (defined by < 80 % consensus). Items not reaching 80 % consensus were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consensus was reached for 88 % of items: recommendations regarding hardware, patient preparation, imaging sequences, angulation, criteria for MRI assessment and MRI reporting were constructed from these.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These expert consensus recommendations can be used as clinical guidelines for primary staging and restaging of rectal cancer using MRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • These guidelines recommend standardised imaging for staging and restaging of rectal cancer. • The guidelines were constructed through consensus amongst 14 abdominal imaging experts. • Consensus was reached by in 88 % of 236 items discussed.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands. r.beets.tan@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Regina G H
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Beets-Tan
authors.forename: Doenja M J
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lambregts
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: Shandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bipat
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caseiro-Alves
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curvo-Semedo
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Fenlon
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gollub
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourtsoyianni
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halligan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoeffel
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laghi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Søren R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rafaelsen
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoker
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torkzad
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011871:Radiology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D012955:Societies, Medical