BACKGROUND: Patients with a locally advanced rectal carcinoma benefit from preoperative chemoradiotherapy. MRI is considered the first choice imaging modality after preoperative chemoradiation, although its reliability for restaging is debatable. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of MRI in restaging locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in a Dutch high-volume rectal cancer center. PATIENTS: A consecutive cohort of 48 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with a curative intent was identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three readers independently evaluated the MRI both for primary staging and for restaging after preoperative chemoradiation and were blinded to results from the other readers as well as histological results. Interobserver variability was determined. Accuracy of the restaging MRI was assessed through the comparison of tumor characteristics on MRI with histopathologic outcomes. RESULTS: T stage was correctly predicted by the 3 readers in 47% to 68% and N stage in 68% to 70%. Overstaging was more common than understaging. Positive predictive values (PPV) among the 3 readers for T0 were 0%, and negative predictive values (NPVs) varied from 84% to 85%. For T1/2, PPVs and NPVs were 50% to 67% and 72% to 90%, and for T3/4 they were 54% to 62% and 33% to 78%. PPVs and NPVs for N0 stage were 81% to 95% and 58% to 73%. Tumor regression grade on MRI did not correspond with histopathologic tumor regression grade; PPVs for good response (tumor regression grade on MRI 1–2) were 48% to 61%, and NPVs were 42% to 58%. Interobserver agreement was fair to moderate for T stage, N stage, and tumor response (κ = 0.20–0.41) and fair to substantial for the relation with the mesorectal fascia (κ = 0.33–0.77). In none of the patients was the surgical plan changed after the restaging MRI. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its small sample size and retrospective nature. CONCLUSIONS: MRI has low accuracy for restaging locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation, and the interobserver variability is significant.

No abstract

Background Involved lateral lymph nodes (LLNs) have been associated with increased local recurrence (LR) and ipsi-lateral LR (LLR) rates. However, consensus regarding the indication and type of surgical treatment for suspicious LLNs is lacking. This study evaluated the surgical treatment of LLNs in an untrained setting at a national level. Methods Patients who underwent additional LLN surgery were selected from a national cross-sectional cohort study regarding patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in 69 Dutch hospitals in 2016. LLN surgery consisted of either ‘node-picking’ (the removal of an individual LLN) or ‘partial regional node dissection’ (PRND; an incomplete resection of the LLN area). For all patients with primarily enlarged (≥7 mm) LLNs, those undergoing rectal surgery with an additional LLN procedure were compared to those  undergoing only rectal resection. Results Out of 3057 patients, 64 underwent additional LLN surgery, with 4-year LR and LLR rates of 26% and 15%, respectively. Forty-eight patients (75%) had enlarged LLNs, with corresponding recurrence rates of 26% and 19%, respectively. Node-picking (n = 40) resulted in a 20% 4-year LLR, and a 14% LLR after PRND (n = 8; p = 0.677). Multivariable analysis of 158 patients with enlarged LLNs undergoing additional LLN surgery (n = 48) or rectal resection alone (n = 110) showed no significant association of LLN surgery with 4-year LR or LLR, but suggested higher recurrence risks after LLN surgery (LR: hazard ratio [HR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7–3.2, p = 0.264; LLR: HR 1.9, 95% CI 0.2–2.5, p = 0.874). Conclusion Evaluation of Dutch practice in 2016 revealed that approximately one-third of patients with primarily enlarged LLNs underwent surgical treatment, mostly consisting of node-picking. Recurrence rates were not significantly affected by LLN surgery, but did suggest worse outcomes. Outcomes of LLN surgery after adequate training requires further research.

A prospective study was initiated to compare the clinically proven results concerning localization/extent and activity of inflammatory bowel diseases with those of 111ln-oxine leukocyte imaging. All patients studied were completely examined with barium enema x-ray, clinical and laboratory investigations, and endoscopy with histopathology. A total of 31 leukocyte scans were performed in 15 patients (12 with Crohn’s disease, 3 with ulcerative colitis). The scans were graded by comparing the cell uptake of a lesion (when present) and a bone marrow area providing a count ratio (CR). The inflammatory lesions were correctly localized on 26 leukocyte scans, and in 21 scans the scintigraphically estimated extent of disease was identical to endoscopy. In 5 cases the disease extent was underestimated, 4 scans in patients with relapse of Crohn’s disease were falsely negative, and in one patient with remission truly negative. The scintigraphically assessed disease activity was also in a good agreement with clinical disease activity based on histopathology in all cases. We conclude that leukocyte imaging provides valuable information about localization and activity of inflammatory bowel disease.

No abstract