MRI in rectal cancer: the T stage and circumferential resection margin.

Different stages of rectal cancer show differing degrees of risk for local recurrence. Paramount for the selection and differentiated treatment of the different risk groups is a reliable preoperative test that can distinguish between these subgroups. There is recent evidence suggesting that MRI can serve for this purpose, because it accurately predicts the circumferential resection margin. In this article the role of MRI in the preoperative management of rectal cancer patients will be discussed.