title: Current imaging of rectal cancer.
abstract: Recent advances in rectal cancer surgery and treatment as well as new developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique have led to extensive research in the field of preoperative imaging of rectal cancer and to an abundant literature. Pelvic MRI has indeed become an important part of the decision-making process for patients with rectal cancer. The aim of this article is to give current guidelines in terms of which imaging method to perform and also to review the role of imaging, with emphasis on MRI, not only for tumor primary staging but also for reevaluation of the tumor after neoadjuvant therapy, highlighting the role of new so-called "functional MR techniques". Future trends are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, hôpital Robert-Debré, CHU de Reims, rue du Général-Kœnig, 51100 Reims, France. Electronic address: choeffel-fornes@chu-reims.fr.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoeffel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, hôpital Robert-Debré, CHU de Reims, rue du Général-Kœnig, 51100 Reims, France. Electronic address: sebastien.mule@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulé
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Radiology, hôpitaux de Brabois, CHU de Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54511 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy cedex, France. Electronic address: v_croiselaurent@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Saint-Éloi Hospital, CHU de Montpellier, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France. Electronic address: ma-pierredon_foulongne@chu-montpellier.fr.
authors.forename: Marie-Ange
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pierredon-Foulogne
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Imaging, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France. Electronic address: philippe.soyer@lrb.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soyer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*