title: Imaging in Colorectal Cancer: Progress and Challenges for the Clinicians.
abstract: The use of imaging in colorectal cancer (CRC) has significantly evolved over the last twenty years, establishing important roles in surveillance, diagnosis, staging, treatment selection and follow up. The range of modalities has broadened with the development of novel tracer and contrast agents, and the fusion of technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT). Traditionally, the most widely used modality for assessing treatment response in metastasised colon and rectal tumours is CT, combined with use of the RECIST guidelines. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that tumour size does not always adequately correlate with clinical outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a more versatile technique and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI and diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI may be used to evaluate biological and functional effects of treatment. Integrated fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/CT combines metabolic and anatomical imaging to improve sensitivity and specificity of tumour detection, and a number of studies have demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy of this modality in a variety of tumour types, including CRC. These developments have enabled the progression of treatment strategies in rectal cancer and improved the detection of hepatic metastatic disease, yet are not without their limitations. These include technical, economical and logistical challenges, along with a lack of robust evidence for standardisation and formal guidance. In order to successfully apply these novel imaging techniques and utilise their benefit to provide truly personalised cancer care, advances need to be clinically realised in a routine and robust manner.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology/Digestive Oncology, University Hospitals Gasthuisberg Leuven and KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. eric.vancutsem@uzleuven.be.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Van Cutsem
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Centre, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. h.verheul@vumc.nl.
authors: Henk M W
authors: HM
authors: Verheul
authors: Nuclear Medicine Imaging and Therapy Department, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. patrick.flamen@bordet.be.
authors: Patrik
authors: P
authors: Flamen
authors: Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology Department, European Hospital, Georges Pompidou, 75015 Paris, France. rougier.philippe2012@gmail.com.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Rougier
authors: Department of Radiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. beetstan@me.com.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Beets-Tan
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment, HA6 2RN Middlesex, UK. rob.glynnejones@nhs.net.
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Glynne-Jones
authors: Clinic of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany. Thomas.Seufferlein@uniklinik-ulm.de.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Seufferlein
keywords: angiogenesis; imaging; metastatic colorectal cancer